Ice-Resistant Performance Analysis of Jackup Structures

Abstract

Jackup structures that have cylindrical legs with gear teeth are widely used in shallow waters. Currently, there is a growing demand for the design of ice-resistant jackup platforms in ice-prone cold regions. Due to the limitations of ice load research, the design code for ice-resistant jackup structures is not based on dynamic response analysis that considers a dynamic ice force model. To develop a reasonable ice-resistant concept design and conduct a safety assessment, dynamic response analysis of jackup platforms under ice loads is essential. In this research, based on a model test of ice forces on a jackup platform, the interaction between ice and a cylindrical leg with gear teeth was observed. Then, the failure modes of compliant structures under the ice forces were presented. Finally, ice-induced dynamic responses were computed under typical ice conditions, and ice resistance performance was analyzed using a jackup platform in the Bohai Sea as an example. This study provides a reasonable basis for the ice-resistant conceptual design of jackup platforms in cold regions.