Influences of floating ice on the water entry process of slender body on the cavity evolution and hydrodynamic characteristics

The Arctic region is rich in energy resources and plays a critical role in global shipping. Consequently, countries worldwide prioritize the formulation of strategies for this region. Research on water entry has predominantly focused on water-only scenarios, with relatively little attention given to the more complex conditions involving floating ice. This study combines numerical simulations and experiments to investigate the ice-breaking water entry of slender bodies. The findings suggest that, during the water entry of a slender body, floating ice affects the diffusion and contraction of the liquid at the gas–liquid interface, which in turn influences air inflow and cavitation development. This alters the formation and evolution of the cavity. By inducing variations in cavity shape and altering cavity collapse time, the hydrodynamic and ballistic properties of the projectile are ultimately affected.