Ice engineering sub-areas in Bohai from ice physical and mechanical parameters

A new division of ice engineering sub-areas is set up based on the ice physical and mechanical parameters distributions in Bohai. The characteristic of the division shows that the load on the vertical structures with same diameter or width is (equal) in a same division area. Therefore, the new division index becomes the product of a uniform ice sheet design thickness and peak compressive strength at different return periods. To obtain these physical and mechanical parameters, we use history data to set up the expressions of a uniform ice sheet or ice sample temperature, salinity and density with air temperature, water temperature, ice period and ice thickness. Then ice porosity is obtained. Later ice peak compressive strength is calculated by using the experimental relationship of Bohai ice peak compressive strength and porosity. At last, the ice sheet physical and peak compressive strength distributions at different return periods in Bohai are developed from ice sample results. The new ice engineering sub-areas at different return periods are obtained with the help of the new division index. The new ice sub-areas in return periods of 25-, 50- and 100-year are given as samples.