Investigating Ice Loads on Subsea Pipelines with Cohesive Zone Model in Abaqus

Subsea pipelines and cables placed in ice-prone regions may be at risk of iceberg damage. In particular, pipes that are not buried may come in direct contact with iceberg keels. Knowing the range of interaction forces helps to assess the types and magnitudes of potential damage. Experimental studies provide the most valuable data about the interaction forces, while numerical modeling may give insight into configurations that are difficult to study experimentally. This work applies the cohesive zone model to investigate the fracture behavior of ice samples. Simulations are performed in 2D with Abaqus explicit solver. Modeled interaction forces from multiple simulations are recorded and compared to understand how the geometry of the samples affects the fracture. Repeat interactions with different grain configurations are conducted to investigate associated variance in fracture patterns and loads. t-tests show that the force application angle and the indenter’s position significantly affect the fracture force.