Model of Ice Rubble Pileup

Abstract

A model of floating ice pressure ridges is developed. A two‐dimensional symmetric wedge is assumed to represent the sail (or keel) of a ridge. The stochastic model of stress transfer in particulate media and the equilibrium equations are used to determine the stress distribution. The kinematics of the problem are not considered in the analysis. The Mohr‐Coulomb criterion is used to determine failure zones and consequently the limiting height and depth of the ridge. The model predicts forces in the ice cover associated with limiting ridge height and depth and gives some information about ridge geometry. The results are compared to other computation methods. Force predictions appear to be of the same order observed when floating ice impinges on wide structures.