Special considerations for the design of ice platforms

Abstract

Ice platforms are engineered sheets of floating ice that are designed to support long-term stationary loads, usually related to construction. These loads can include cranes, drill rigs, excavators, girder trucks, and tandem trucks. This paper will discuss general design procedures for ice platforms as well as cases with special considerations such as multiple long-term loads, repetitive long-term loads, objects dropped down onto the ice, loads near large holes in the ice, loads near bridge piers, loads near banks, and loads on access ramps.