Advances in Ice Mechanics in West Germany

Abstract

Ice research in West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) started after World War II with the first small ice tank built at HSVA in Hamburg in 1958. The discovery of hydrocarbons in the Arctic and the membership in the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research led to the need for model tests and the advancing ice modelling techniques. In 1984 a new, large ice model basin was built at HSVA. Substantial progress has been made in the experimental research of basic ice mechanics and ice forces for the past 20 years. Computational methods and quantum statistical approach have recently been introduced for the study of ice properties. Predicting methods of ice forces with model and full scale experiments have been investigated. This paper highlights West German contributions for the last 20 years.