Correlation of model-scale to full-scale ice piece size

This document summarizes the model-scale to full-scale ice piece size correlation performed at the National Research Council\u2019s Ocean, Coastal, and River Engineering (NRC-OCRE) St. John\u2019s Ice Tank. This correlation work supports the NRC-OCRE CCGS Polar Icebreaker model test program; it is based on an earlier investigation by Lau et al (1999) on the influence of ice thickness on piece size during icebreaking by sloping structures. For this study, additional data from the CCGS RClass icebreakers and the USCGC icebreakers Healy and Polar-Star are examined. The study is focused on the scaling performance of NRC-OCRE EG/AD/S model ice with respect to piece size generation. This study has shown the non-dimensional piece size decreases and approaches that found in full scale beyond a certain thickness, i.e., ~ 9 cm. We tested the Polar Icebreaker model in EG/AD/S model ice at 8 cm and 10.4 cm, and at this range we expect the similar thickness dependency follows. However, the bow breaking pattern of the Polar icebreaker model produced much larger pieces in comparison with other more conventional icebreaking bows, i.e., the R-Class, tested in similar ice thickness. It points to a need for further assessment of the bow shape influence on broken piece size, as the Polar icebreaker designs have bow geometry significantly diverse from the traditional icebreaker bow forms that may contribute to different icebreaking patterns and hence piece size.Peer reviewed: NoNRC publication: Ye