Resonance method of ice destruction

The Resonance method of ice destruction can be used by any vehicle capable of traveling on ice cover with sufficient speed and imposing sufficient load. There have been cases of destruction of ice by flexural gravity waves (FGW) produced by moving cars, trains on railway crossings, aircraft during takeoff and landing, etc. However, at present the most appropriate vehicles for implementation of the method are amphibious hovercraft, also known as air cushion vehicles (ACV).

The primary means to break the ice cover is the icebreaker fleet. However, large energy consumption for the destruction of the ice, the inability to perform icebreaking operations in shallow waters because of the deep draught of icebreakers, and other difficulties, have prompted a search for fundamentally new ways of destruction of ice. One of them is designed by Viktor Kozin author of the study: "Resonance method of destruction of ice cover".[1]

Contents

Overview

It is known that the motion of a load over ice cover develops a system of flexural gravity waves (FGW). This is a combination of flexural vibrations of the ice plate and associated gravitational waves in the water. When the velocity of the load is close to the minimum phase velocity of the FGW, the water ceases to support the ice sheet and support is achieved only by the elastic properties of the ice. The amplitude of the FGW increase sharply and, with a sufficient load, destruction begins. The power consumption is several times lower (depending on the thickness of the ice) compared with icebreakers and ice-breaking attachments. This method of ice destruction is known as the resonance method.

Advantages

The advantages of hovercraft are: the lack of exposure of the vehicle body to the ice, the ability to cross safely over snow and ice cover, broken ice, and open water. The virtual absence of draught in hovercraft can break the ice in pools of any depth.

Using a hovercraft for destruction of ice is desirable because this type of vehicle makes possible a combination of transport and ice-breaking, and its all-terrain qualities facilitate year-round operation.

The high speed of destruction of ice by hovercraft can effectively make an early opening of individual sections of rivers and reservoirs. This may not only increase the period of navigation, but also prevent the phenomenon of mash. Working an ACV in the resonant regime is effective not only on surface ice, but also on deep ice, and this can prevent disasters occurring during freeze-up and drifting.

Research

Scientist Viktor Kozin has obtained experimental theoretical curves, which reveal all the possibilities of his method.

References

  1. ^ Kozin, V.M. (2007). Resonance method of destruction of ice cover. invention and experimentation. Moscow: Izdatel'stvo "The Academy of Natural Sciences". pp. -355 with.. ISBN 978-5-91327-017-7. 

Literature

Patents

Publications in refereed journals

Articles in scientific books and periodical publications

Publications in materials research activities