Load Transmission Through Ice Rubble on the Gulf Molikpaq

Abstract

A test program has been performed in an ice modeling basin to measure the load apportioning through ice rubble around Gulf’s Molikpaq, a steel caisson offshore structure. A model of the Molikpaq and its supporting submarine berm was built at a 1:75 scale. The Molikpaq and berm were instrumented independently, so the load apportioning could be determined. Thirty-six ice-loading events, including rubble formation from level ice as well as impacts through the rubble by extreme ice features, were analyzed. The results of the tests show that the ice rubble can deform and transmit load to the structure at force levels well below those predicted by a rigid-body analysis of the rubble.