ICE BREAKAGE WITH EXPLOSIVES

There are any number of areas in which blasting can be used for ice breaking. Among these are: Breakup of ice in channels into ports, for deep and shallow draft vessels. Ice breakup in frozen areas, for water intake and outlet systems. Ice breakup in rivers to prevent flooding in areas behind ice formations. Breakup of ice to allow ships to navigate in ice locked areas. In determining the factors necessary to break up large areas of ice, one factor is paramount. Displacement of the ice, in total, must occur, and must occur over a large area, all at the same time. Placement of the charges in or on top of the ice causes only a radial breakage, and camoflots of cracking from area of charge to area of charge. The ice, by its very nature brittle and cohesive, will not break up. The method of displacement is relatively simple. Charges placed in the water, at a depth sufficient to lift the water and transmit the shock waves attended upon a detonation in the water, will displace ice throughout the entire area of the blast. Thus, instead of the shattering and "throw" normally associated with ice breakup, a lifting action is applied, in such force as to reduce the ice to small pieces, and return it to the surface of the water. Breakup occurs through three phases. First the cracking due to shock fronts supplied by the initial detonating wave as it travels through the relatively incompressible water. Second, through the lift generated by the upheaval of the water after venting of the bubble formed by the expanding gases, and last, due to breakup upon re-entering or hitting the water on the way down from the initial lift by the water. Explosive icebreaking procedures are reviewed for a general set of circumstances, taking into consideration thickness of ice, size of charge and depth of placement necessary to achieve the desired results.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract of paper delivered at the First International Conference on "Port and Ocean Engineering under Arctic Conditions" held at Trondheim, Norway, August 23-30, 1971
• Corporate Authors:

  POAC Conference

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Goode, J W
  • Teller, A E
• Publication Date: 1971

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Explosives; Icebreaking
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00025709
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Arctic Institute of North America
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 28 1973 12:00AM