In Finite Element Analyses (FEA) of ice interactions with offshore structures, the constitutive material model for the behaviour of ice becomes a critical factor to accurately calculate maximum ice loads. Cracking activity is an integral part of the interaction process and it can be modelled using a hybrid approach of constitutive modelling of ice behaviour and explicit numerical solution. In this paper, a brief summary for the constitutive model, damage formulation, failure criterion, and numerical solution is presented. The subject of how both micro and macro cracks are modelled and used in the simulations of typical ice-structure interaction problems (and subsequently to calculate maximum ice loads) is discussed in the light of the results of two different examples. The 1st example is a numerical simulation of an ice sheet (100 by 60 by 0.5 m) impacting a large fixed concrete structure (120 by 40 by 40 m) in the Bell Isle Strait (BIS), Newfoundland, Canada. The 2nd second example, however, is a simulation of a cylindrical rigid indentor impacting an ice block (10 by 2 by 2 m) at high speed. The results from both examples are discussed in the light of the "damage and fracture" formulation of the present constitutive model and failure criterion for ice. Conclusions and recommendations for future work are provided.
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