Impact on the bearing capacity of an ice road with localized thin areas due to a moving load

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Ice roads, ice runways, and ice platforms provide vital access to remote areas of Canada for the resupply of**isolated communities as well as the exploration and development of natural resources for economic growth in**Canada. Accurately determining the safe bearing capacity for these ice covers is critical, and is closely**dependent on the ice thickness as a design parameter. Investigating this in a laboratory setting provides a**controlled and repeatable environment to examine the impact thin ice zones have on the bearing capacity of an**ice cover. The first studies of this focused on a stationary load applied at the centre of the ice sheet which had**a defined distance from the thin zone. In reality, the loads on ice roads will be moving trucks traveling along**the road. Therefore, it is essential that one investigates how a moving load will be impacted by localized thin**zones. And, how will a thin zone reduce the bearing capacity of an ice cover for a moving load? In order for**NOR-EX to apply the effective ice thickness results from a moving load directly to their ice road design**methodology there is a need to understand how a moving load will be affected by a thin zone. The results of**this research project will allow NOR-EX Engineering Ltd. to continue to build their understanding on how a**moving load will be affected by a thin zone and to develop methodology for ensuring safety of vehicles using**their ice roads.