Peridynamic approach for modelling ice-structure interactions

One of the most significant and widely studied ice problems from mechanical standpoint is out-of-plane failure of an ice floe. In this study, a new continuum mechanics formulation, peridynamics, is utilized to analyze ice plates under out of plane bending load for 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional cases. For the 2-Dimensional analysis, peridynamic Mindlin plate resting on an elastic foundation formulation is used. By changing the ice floe size, crack propagation patterns change based on a certain condition which allows us to determine if a finite ice floe of a certain size can be considered as a semi-infinite ice floe. For the 3-Dimensional example, a standard peridynamic structural model with rudimentary buoyancy body load representing the fluid base is utilized. The peridynamic model interacts with a conical rigid body to represent more realistic loading conditions. Accurate fracture patterns showing a transition from initial radial cracks to circumferential cracks is successfully captured.