Ice tank – 90 m research facility

The ice tank in St. John's is one of the largest facilities of its type in the world, featuring a usable ice sheet of 76 x 12 m. This indoor, refrigerated tow-tank facility simulates realistic Arctic and northern marine conditions with temperatures ranging down to -25 °C. It can grow ice at a rate of 2.5 mm per hour to a maximum thickness of 200 mm. The facility can model all types of full-scale ice conditions, including grey ice, multi-year ice, level ice, drifting pack ice, columnar ice, ice ridges, glacial and multiyear ice, bergy bits, and growlers. The NRC has expertise in recreating the material properties of sea ice at model scale, which is crucial for evaluating vessel and structure performance in ice conditions. Tests performed in this facility include ship resistance, ship self-propulsion, offshore simulation, captive and free maneuvering in ice, and ice forces on moored and fixed structures. The tank's dimensions (90 m long, 12 m wide, and 3 m deep) allow for testing offshore structures and ship models at higher speeds and for longer durations, providing more data per run. The tank's width enables manoeuvring studies and multiple trial runs for each sheet of ice. The ice tank is equipped with an 80,000 kg, 745 kW carriage with a maximum speed of 4 m/s and a drive force of 60 kN. A separate service carriage is available for ice management and ice ridge construction. Refrigeration is supplied by an ammonia-based system with 26 evaporators and computerized control capable of 2.5 mm/hr growth at -20 °C. Model ice, or EGADS ice, has been specially developed by the NRC to mimic the scale properties of sea ice. This formulation is grown under controlled conditions to have a fine grain columnar construction with controllable density, closely matching both the flexural strength and crushing strength of real sea ice at model scale. Instrumentation includes force measurement using strain gage load cells, model displacement and motions, accelerometer arrays, under and above water video, accurate level ice, pack ice, rubble ice, and ice ridge modeling. The tank's 12 m width makes it possible to perform manoeuvring studies and to conduct three trial runs for each sheet of ice, thereby improving cost effectiveness. A large amplitude planar motion mechanism can also be deployed for measuring manoeuvring performance of vessels in ice or open water and for simulating changes in ice drift heading on fixed structures. Working with the NRC offers the competitive advantage of world-class, customizable testing facilities combined with the broad knowledge and experience of in-house research staff. The NRC capitalizes on professional employees who have extensive experience in advanced engineering for complex water environments.

Who can apply

• Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Official program page