Research article
19 Aug 2015
Research article | 19 Aug 2015
Hydroelastic analysis of ice shelves under long wave excitation
T. K. Papathanasiou1,a, A. E. Karperaki2, E. E. Theotokoglou3, and K. A. Belibassakis2
T. K. Papathanasiou et al.
T. K. Papathanasiou1,a, A. E. Karperaki2, E. E. Theotokoglou3, and K. A. Belibassakis2
- 1Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying & Geoinformatics Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece
- 2School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece
- 3Department of Mechanics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Science, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece
- anow at: DICAM, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy
- 1Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying & Geoinformatics Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece
- 2School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece
- 3Department of Mechanics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Science, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece
- anow at: DICAM, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy
Correspondence: A. E. Karperaki (karperaki.ang@gmail.com)
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Received: 10 Mar 2015 – Discussion started: 05 May 2015 – Revised: 29 Jul 2015 – Accepted: 05 Aug 2015 – Published: 19 Aug 2015
The transient hydroelastic response of an ice shelf under long wave excitation is analysed by means of the finite element method. The simple model, presented in this work, is used for the simulation of the generated kinematic and stress fields in an ice shelf, when the latter interacts with a tsunami wave. The ice shelf, being of large length compared to its thickness, is modelled as an elastic Euler-Bernoulli beam, constrained at the grounding line. The hydrodynamic field is represented by the linearised shallow water equations. The numerical solution is based on the development of a special hydroelastic finite element for the system of governing of equations. Motivated by the 2011 Sulzberger Ice Shelf (SIS) calving event and its correlation with the Honshu Tsunami, the SIS stable configuration is studied. The extreme values of the bending moment distribution in both space and time are examined. Finally, the location of these extrema is investigated for different values of ice shelf thickness and tsunami wave length.
