THE ROLE OF DISCRETE FAILURES IN LOCAL ICE LOADS

A conceptual model of ice failure is proposed. The model describes ice failure as a nested hierarchy of discrete failure events. In this mod el, each failure event changes the geometry of the problem, and thus, sets one of the important initial conditions of the next failure event . The ice load, along with other results of the ice-structure interact ion, depends on how the sequence of failure events progresses. It is a rgued that the best method of understanding ice loads is to treat ice failure as a process of discrete failure events. The literature on dis crete failure events in ice is reviewed. The experimental background a nd specific solutions using discrete failure processes are described. Specific attention is given to those local failure processes that take place at an ice-structure interface. The mechanics of pulverisation, showing possible alternative discrete mechanisms are presented. Finall y, an event tree for local ice failure is given. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.