| This study is focussed on gaining an understanding of stiffened plating behaviour when subject to ice loads. Literature in three main areas was studied: ice failure processes during ice-structure interaction, definition of stiffened plate failure modes (or limit states) and reliability analysis, which incorporates these limit states into a probabilistic framework for design. The estimation of the response of a stiffened plate to extreme loads is greatly facilitated through an experimental analysis. To this end, a small-scale stiffened plate panel, subject to a lateral patch load, was tested to failure in the Structures Laboratory at Memorial University of Newfoundland. The patch loading is an idealisation of the two possible ice interaction scenarios in the waters off Newfoundland. The first is when level ice (or pack ice) acts upon, say, a ship's side shell. The second is the impact of a growler or bergy bit on a ship or platform leg. A detailed description of the physical model is given, along with results obtained. The use of finite element (FE) modelling techniques has greatly improved the study of complicated loading scenarios and structural response. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
