Measurement of Ice Forces on Structures

by D. S. Sodhi, US Army Cold Regions Research &, Engineering Lab, Hanover, NH, USA,



Part of: Design for Ice Forces

Abstract:

Methodologies and techniques are discussed for measuring ice forces on fixed structures situated in rivers and lakes. The usual method of measuring ice forces is to place a load frame between the moving ice and the structure and to measure the reactive forces with load cells or strain gages. Another method is to measure the acceleration, displacement or strain at a few points on the test structure and relate the measurements to ice forces. The size and shape of the force-measuring system depend upon the mode of ice failure, the distribution of the ice forces and the logistics associated with each site. The variations of ice force with respect to time are generally very high during crushing and impact, and the response of the force-measuring system should be sufficiently fast. The presentation of data from past efforts to measure ice forces has been in the form of peak force levels, plots of ice force with respect to time, and frequency spectra.

Subject Headings: Ice loads | Ice | Strain | Load distribution | Strain gages | Rivers and streams | Moving loads

 

Return to search