BREAKAGE OF FLOATING ICE BY COMPRESSED GAS BLASTING

Tests were made to determine the effectiveness of compressed-gas blasting devices for breaking floating ice sheets. Experiments were made on frozen lakes in New Hampshire and Alaska using the Cardox and Airdox blasting systems, and comparative tests were made with conventional chemical explosive. Gas blasting devices were found to be closely comparable to chemical explosives in terms of specific energy consumption, but absence of any significant shock wave in the gas blast results in a different mode of action. The gas devices fractured the ice largely by flexure, giving large fragments. Practical applications of gas blasting for ice breaking are discussed. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

  72 Lyme Road
  Hanover, NH  United States  03755-1290
• Authors:
  • Mellor, M
  • Kovacs, A
• Publication Date: 1972-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 46 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Explosives; Feasibility analysis; Ice floes; Icebreaking
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00044639
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CRREL-SR-184 Spec Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 4 1973 12:00AM