Sea Ice Failure near Port Facilities in Cold Regions

Ports and fishing ports in cold regions in Hokkaido freeze during winter. Changes in sea level after ice sheets have adfrozen to port facilities, such as floating structures, quays and breakwaters, create vertical ice loads. Floating structures often suffer damage from sea ice, making it important to consider the influence of the sea ice in the design of such structures in cold regions.In this study, investigations of sea ice conditions were conducted to estimate ice loads, and the distribution of ice thickness and the area range where the ice sheet undergoes flexural failure were clarified.