Within the NEST project a joint STRICE-NEST workshop was arranged under the cooperative frame provided by the NEST project from September 23 to 25, 2002 in Dalian (PR China).

The workshop stipulated exchange of research ideas and methods between relevant scientific and engineering communities in the Peoples Republic of China and the European Union.

Group photo of the NEST workshop participants in Dalian

Seventeen presentations were given in three sessions. Most of these presentations concerned various aspects of dynamic ice-structure interaction. European representatives Mr. K.-U. Evers of HSVA, Prof. L. Fransson of LUT, Dr. T. Kärnä of VTT and Messrs. Bjerkås and Moslet of NTNU provided information on experimental research on ice-structure interaction. This information was completed in a presentation given by Dr. D. Sodhi from USA. Both field tests and laboratory tests were addressed. Complementary, Prof. Yue Qianjin, Mr. Li Feng and Prof. Li Zhijun discussed resent experimental results which have been obtained in China.

Theoretical research on ice-structure interaction which has been carried out in Europe were discussed by Dr. J. Weiss of LGGE, Prof. M. Määttänen of HUT, and Dr. D. Sodhi from USA. Correspondingly, Prof. Duan Zhongdon and Prof. Xu Jizu gave presentations on recent theoretical findings in China.

The workshop was accomplished with two presentations on innovative research related to ice engineering. Prof. Ou Jinping described various possibilities to mitigate ice-induced vibrations. Prof. S. Løset of NTNU described resent effort to develop systems for loading oil in ice-infested sea areas.

The presentations are available on a compact disc which can be obtained through the NEST project co-ordinator and can be also downloaded from this web site .

Within subsequent joint discussions problems for future research were identified. Prof. M. Määttänen outlined the following chain of research task where practical results are derived in various steps starting from fundamental research:

1. Contact phenomena shall be studied.
2. Micro-cracking phenomena shall be studied as well.
3. Numerical simulation models ought to base on results
   obtained in steps 1 and 2.
4. Fatigue caused by dynamic ice forces should be modelled.
5. New codes on ice forces should be developed based on results
   obtained in steps 1 to 4.

Prof. Yue Qianjin emphasised a need to classify various aspects of the dynamic ice-structure interaction problem. These include wide and narrow structures, vertical and conical ones, static and dynamic ice forces as well as data to be obtained in the full- and on micro-scales.

Prof. S. Løset referred to the future development in oil and gas fields. In his opinion, hydrocarbon exploration using floating units is the most promising technical option. He also draw attention to the present developments in shallow water areas were ice is a problem. How can we apply previous research results in these areas?

Prof. L. Fransson emphasised the need of co-operation between researchers. Dr. D. Sodhi joined his opinion and proposed that researchers should put their research results including digital data on their own web sites so that other researchers can access the results easily.

Mr. Evers referred to the possibilities that the European ARCTECLAB can provide for experimental ice research. He also invited the participants of the workshop to send him Letters of Interest, which the Arcteclab can use in the next proposal planned for submission under the European Commission's Sixth RTD Framework Programme.

Finally, Prof. Li Zhijun stated the opinion that self-induced vibration is an important topic for future research. In this respect, the ice velocity is an important parameter in any studies. Both field research and laboratory studies should be continued.

More information on this workshop:

Download the workshop presentations and documents.