DIC Test of Ice Load on Ship Structures

Ice loads are an inevitable challenge for ships navigating in polar regions. When the hull collides with or is squeezed by ice, the ship structure may bear enormous stress, leading to local deformation or even structural damage. Traditional strain measurement methods usually rely on contact sensors, which need to be mounted directly on the hull surface. However, in ice load testing, the complex shape of the hull surface and the harsh environmental conditions make this method difficult and unreliable. Installing contact sensors is not only time-consuming, but under extreme cold the sensor performance may also be affected, resulting in measurement errors.

The Haytham DIC visual strain gauge effectively overcomes these problems through non-contact measurement. The device captures images of the ship structure surface with high-resolution cameras and analyzes the pixel changes in the images using DIC technology to precisely calculate the strain distribution on the hull surface. Since it does not need to contact the hull surface directly, this measurement method avoids the measurement errors caused by sensor installation or environmental conditions, ensuring high-precision strain data acquisition under extreme conditions.

In ice load testing, the interaction between the hull and ice is a dynamic process, and the Haytham DIC visual strain gauge can monitor the strain changes on the hull surface throughout this process. Compared with traditional measurement methods, the device provides full-field strain measurement covering the entire hull surface area. This full-field measurement capability allows researchers to comprehensively analyze the strain distribution of the hull under ice loads, especially identifying stress concentration regions and locations where structural damage may occur. This is crucial for evaluating the ice resistance of the ship structure and optimizing its design.

Y-direction displacement

Principal strain

In addition, the Haytham DIC visual strain gauge offers micron-level measurement accuracy and can capture the subtle deformations of the hull under ice loads. Such high-precision measurement is essential for studying the cumulative damage caused by ice loads and its impact on the long-term performance of the hull. With these data, researchers can better understand the mechanical behavior of ships in polar environments, providing a scientific basis for designing stronger and more durable hull structures.