Objective
The SAFEICE project aim is to create a scientific basis for ice class rules (ship hull strength) and for placing requirements on ice classes. The main purposes in the SAFEICE project are to develop semi-empirical methods based on measurements to determine the ice loads on ship hull, to find relationship between operational conditions and ice load, to develop ship-ice interaction models to assess the design ice loads on ship hull, to develop methods to estimate ultimate strength of shell plating and frames and to develop methods to analyse ice damages. The target is to decrease the risk involved in winter navigation. Baltic Sea, Okhostk Sea and Canadian waters are used as validation areas for ice load predictions. The aims are achieved by compiling a database of earlier information on ice loads and ice pressures. This is a collection of full scale ice load data measured on board ships of various types sailing in different sea areas. Ice load data sets are used in validation of deterministic ice load models. The ice loading process has a stochastic nature. The stochasticity of ice loads influences the design ice load value. In the SAFEICE project probability based methods in ice load evaluation will be developed and validated with measured data. First yield load of ships operating in the Baltic Sea are often exceeded. However, serious ice damages are rare. Ultimate load carrying capacity of hull structure is therefore utilised. Instead of elastic design, ice rules could be based on plastic design. Probability of loads exceeding ultimate strength of various structural elements can then be estimated and the design load level will be explicitly determined. The project will be carried out with the participation of universities, maritime authorities and European, Canadian and Japanese marine research institutes. The partners represent the vertical chain from basic research into implementing the ice rules and enforcing safety at sea.
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Call for proposal
FP6-2002-TRANSPORT-1
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