A one-dimensional wave analysis of the stress and velocity in a unifor
m ice plate impacting a rigid structure at low velocity, driven by the
net effects of wind and ocean drag, determines the histories of stres
s on the structure and the motion of the plate. A linear viscoelastic
ice response law is adopted which incorporates primary, secondary and
tertiary creep effects consistent with observed (non-linear) response
at a constant stress chosen to be a typical maximum magnitude. The lin
ear elastic solution is a trivial special case. Comparisons are made w
ith the corresponding quasistatic analysis, which neglects the non-rig
id body accelerations and wave effects. A quasistatic treatment may be
considered an appropriate approximation for low velocity impact, but
the comparisons show otherwise. A non-linear elastic quasistatic solut
ion is also compared.