The study of the Popov method for estimation of ice loads on ship’s hull using full-scale data from the Antarctic Sea

When ice floe acts against a structure, there are three limit mechanisms in ice loads: limit ice strength, limit driving force and limit momentum. In this paper, Popov-type energy approach based on limit momentum mechanism is adopted and coupled with full-scale measurements conducted on board the S.A. Agulhas II in the Antarctic sea. This research aims to compare the ship-ice interaction parameters determined from energy considerations with processed full-scale measurements. This study focuses on the mechanism of ship-ice interaction, hull form, physical and mechanical properties of ice. Two cases of ship-ice collision processes including five types of ship-ice contact geometry are covered. The solutions for the collision processes are presented and compared for all geometry cases. The results of this study show that the estimated ship-ice interaction parameters have a relatively good correlation with full-scale measurements. Additionally, the limitations and future directions in the energy approach are also discussed.