A systematic analysis of test-based model-scale icebreaking patterns

Abstract

The study of icebreaking patterns has been sparsely studied over the course of the past half century. Various methods have been developed primarily to approximate the size of the resultant cusps and general inferences from the observations of the cusps and relating properties. The objective of this work aims to compile the current state of the art in this field and perform model tests focusing on icebreaking pattern. The resultant cusps of the tests were recorded, measured, compiled, statistically fit, and analyzed in works with comparing to currently available approximation methods as well as revisit any current theories regarding the nature of icebreaking pattern and its scalability. The cusps and patterns formed from model tests from the Azipod-version model of the MT Uikku at slow speeds were used for the comparison and analysis. The tests show primarily the confirmation of most current theories with an exception to one criterion regarding elasticity, promoted potential prospects for scaling, and found greater accuracy from theoretical and full-scale based approximation methods as opposed to model scale prediction methods.