Application of rigid-plastic theory method in ship-ice collision

The rigid-plastic theory is widely used to estimate structural plastic damage in ship collision and some other structural impact cases under the assumption that the impactor is an idealized rigid body. This paper aims to extend the rigid-plastic method in ship collision to ship-ice collision, considering the energy dissipation caused by ice failure in the collision process. Based on three types of assumed collision scenarios between ship plates and ice floes, an approximate analytical plastic damage prediction method for ship plate impacted by ice floe is proposed, combining the rigid-plastic theory method with the energy approach of ice crushing. The analytical results have good correlations with experimental and numerical results in predicting maximal collision forces, plastic deformations of plate and so on. The proposed analytical formulations can provide a useful and conve-nient tool for the estimation of plastic damage of ship plates subjected to ice floe impact.

Automated summary

The paper introduces a method of applying the rigid-plastic theory to ship-ice collision and predicting plastic damage caused by energy dissipation during ice impact. The analytical results show good correlations with experimental and numerical results, accurately predicting maximal collision forces and plastic deformations of ship plates.