A Review of Ice Deformation and Breaking Under Flexural-Gravity Waves Induced by Moving Loads

Abstract

AbstractIce-breaking methods have become increasingly significant with the ongoing development of the polar regions. Among many ice-breaking methods, ice-breaking that utilizes a moving load is unique compared with the common collision or impact methods. A moving load can generate flexural-gravity waves (FGWs), under the influence of which the ice sheet undergoes deformation and may even experience structural damage. Moving loads can be divided into above-ice loads and underwater loads. For the above-ice loads, we discuss the characteristics of the FGWs generated by a moving load acting on a complete ice sheet, an ice sheet with a crack, and an ice sheet with a lead of open water. For underwater loads, we discuss the influence on the ice-breaking characteristics of FGWs of the mode of motion, the geometrical features, and the trajectory of motion of the load. In addition to discussing the status of current research and the technical challenges of ice-breaking by moving loads, this paper also looks ahead to future research prospects and presents some preliminary ideas for consideration.