Two-Dimensional Numerical Method for Predicting the Resistance of Ships in Pack Ice: Development and Validation

This study presents a 2D numerical simulation method for predicting the resistance of ships navigating in pack ice. The key contribution of this study lies in the derivation of analytical closed-form solutions for calculating the flexural deformation and stress distribution in an elastic plate using Symplectic Mechanics and Hooke’s laws. These solutions are used to determine the failure mode of ice floes. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFMs) and the weight function method are utilized to analyze crack initiation, propagation, and fracture. Ice is broken when a crack propagates to 14.5% of the ice length. The compressive strength of ice and the contact area are used to calculate the ice load. A collision method was developed based on the Sweep and Prune (SAP) and Gilbert–Johnson–Keerthi (GJK) algorithms. A program for predicting the resistance of ships navigating in pack ice was developed based on MATLAB and the aforementioned theories. The navigation resistance of RV Xuelong at different ice concentrations and speeds was simulated and compared with the model test results from an ice tank. The comparison shows that the simulation results are consistent with the test results, with an average error of 9.05%, indicating the effectiveness and reliability of this numerical method. This study lays a solid foundation for future research on autonomous ship navigation in pack ice.