University Of Alaska Anchorage: Ice Research May Add Up To Big Savings For A Growing Industry

Press release from the University of Alaska Anchorage:

February 17, 2022

1. About UAA

   1. 
      About UAA
      
      

      UAA is the premier university in the heart of Alaska's largest city with campuses throughout
      Southcentral Alaska. Where culture, innovation and adventure converge, the unique
      locations provide unparalleled access to industry connections, Arctic research, outdoor
      recreation and more, facilitating once-in-a-lifetime experiences, groundbreaking education and
      impactful careers.

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1. UAA 2025: Strategic Plan
2. Chancellor
3. Equity, Compliance and Title IX

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1. Visit and Tour
2. Academic Programs
3. Transfer to UAA
4. FAFSA, Aid and Scholarships

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1. 
   About UAA
   
   

   UAA is the premier university in the heart of Alaska's largest city with campuses throughout
   Southcentral Alaska. Where culture, innovation and adventure converge, the unique
   locations provide unparalleled access to industry connections, Arctic research, outdoor
   recreation and more, facilitating once-in-a-lifetime experiences, groundbreaking education and
   impactful careers.

   Popular links

   1. UAA 2025: Strategic Plan
   2. Chancellor
   3. Equity, Compliance and Title IX

2. About UAA

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   1. Diversity and Inclusion
   2. Equity, Compliance and Title IX
   3. Green and Gold News

3. Administration

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   1. Chancellor
   2. Academic Affairs
   3. Administrative Services
   4. Advancement
   5. Student Affairs

4. Campuses

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   1. Kenai Peninsula
   2. Kodiak
   3. Matanuska Susitna
   4. Prince William Sound

5. UAA 2025: Strategic Plan
   

   ---

   1. About UAA 2025
   2. Putting Students First
   3. 
      Embracing Diversity and
      Inclusion
      
   4. Community Partner
   5. Impact through Innovation
   6. 
      Excellence Through
      Continuous Improvement
      

1. UAA 2025: Strategic Plan
2. Chancellor
3. Equity, Compliance and Title IX

1. Diversity and Inclusion
2. Equity, Compliance and Title IX
3. Green and Gold News

1. Chancellor
2. Academic Affairs
3. Administrative Services
4. Advancement
5. Student Affairs

1. Kenai Peninsula
2. Kodiak
3. Matanuska Susitna
4. Prince William Sound

1. About UAA 2025
2. Putting Students First
3. 
   Embracing Diversity and
   Inclusion
   
4. Community Partner
5. Impact through Innovation
6. 
   Excellence Through
   Continuous Improvement
   

1. 
   Academics
   
   

   UAA offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs that consistently prepare students for success after
   graduation. State-of-the-art classroom instruction and hands-on learning collide in UAA's innovative academic
   programs, which feature unique courses that train students to lead Alaska into the future.

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2. Advising
3. Dates and Deadlines
4. Academic Affairs

1. Arts and Sciences
2. Business and Public Policy
3. Engineering
4. Health
5. Community and Technical
6. Honors
7. School of Education
8. Graduate School

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2. Continuing Education
3. Business Enterprise Institute

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   Learn more about admissions processes, taking
   classes, tour UAA in-person or virtually, and find out more about Financial Aid available at UAA. Whether you are a new or continuing student,
   the Office of Financial Aid is available to offer support and advice so you can make informed decisions regarding
   college funding options. Get help at the Enrollment Services Center: offering virtual and walk-in appointments to
   help students apply to UAA; get help with financial aid, scholarships, and the FAFSA.

   Popular links

   1. Visit and Tour
   2. Academic Programs
   3. Transfer to UAA
   4. FAFSA, Aid and Scholarships

   Locations

   1. Enrollment Services Center

2. Admissions

   ---

   1. How to Apply
   2. Transfer to UAA
   3. Academic Programs
   4. Visit and Tour
   5. Request more Info
   6. Contact Admissions

3. Financial Aid

   ---

   1. FAFSA, Aid and Scholarships
   2. Additional Payment Options
   3. Check your Status
   4. Student Responsibilities
   5. 
      Cost of Attendance, Aid Types and Planning Tools
      
   6. Military and Veteran Student Services
   7. Student Accounts and Refunds

1. Visit and Tour
2. Academic Programs
3. Transfer to UAA
4. FAFSA, Aid and Scholarships

1. Enrollment Services Center

1. How to Apply
2. Transfer to UAA
3. Academic Programs
4. Visit and Tour
5. Request more Info
6. Contact Admissions

1. FAFSA, Aid and Scholarships
2. Additional Payment Options
3. Check your Status
4. Student Responsibilities
5. 
   Cost of Attendance, Aid Types and Planning Tools
   
6. Military and Veteran Student Services
7. Student Accounts and Refunds

1. 
   Athletics
   
   

   From 13 competitive NCAA teams to recreation and intramural and club sports, students have the opportunity to
   excel in athletics at every level. The Alaska Airlines Center and Seawolf Sports Complex offer recreation as well
   as hosting community events and concerts. Students can take advantage of cheering for SeawolfNation with free
   tickets to many games.

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   1. Seawolf Online Store
   2. Recreation
   3. Intramurals

   Locations

   1. Alaska Airlines Center
   2. Seawolf Sports Complex

2. Go Seawolves

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   1. Upcoming Seawolves Games
   2. Tickets
   3. Staff Directory

3. Women's Sports

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   1. Basketball
   2. Cross Country
   3. Gymnastics
   4. Skiing
   5. Track and Field
   6. Volleyball

4. Men's Sports

   ---

   1. Basketball
   2. Cross Country
   3. Hockey
   4. Skiing
   5. Track and Field

1. Seawolf Online Store
2. Recreation
3. Intramurals

1. Alaska Airlines Center
2. Seawolf Sports Complex

1. Upcoming Seawolves Games
2. Tickets
3. Staff Directory

1. Basketball
2. Cross Country
3. Gymnastics
4. Skiing
5. Track and Field
6. Volleyball

1. Basketball
2. Cross Country
3. Hockey
4. Skiing
5. Track and Field

1. 
   Research
   
   

   UAA is a hub for cutting-edge theoretical and applied research in health, engineering, and the physical and
   social sciences. In nearly every discipline, undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to join
   research teams and collaborate with experienced faculty mentors.

1. Sponsored Programs
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   Explore the wide variety of services and resources available at UAA to help promote your
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1. Advising
2. Bookstore
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4. Transcripts
5. USUAA Student Governance
6. Library
7. 
   Student Health and
   Counseling Center
   

1. Student Union
2. Enrollment Services Center
3. Student Health and Counseling Center

1. Advising
2. Bookstore
3. Registration, Dates and Deadlines
4. Military and Veteran Student Services
5. Degree Progress
6. Transfer Credit
7. Graduation
8. Career Services
9. Student Account (Bursar)
10. Dean of Students
11. Disability Support Services

1. Engage
2. Organizations and Clubs
3. Activities and Programs
4. Student Union
5. Multicultural Student Services
6. Recreation

1. Housing Options
2. Apply for Housing
3. Current Residents
4. Info for Parents/Guardians
5. Contact Residence Life

1. USUAA Student Governance
2. Student Media
3. Concert Board
4. Green Fee Board
5. Club Council
6. Emerging Leaders Program

1. 
   Alaska Natives
   
   

   Located in the ancestral homelands of the Dena'ina, Ahtna Dene, Alutiiq/Sugpiak, Chugachmiut and Eyak peoples,
   Alaska Native curriculum at UAA provides an in-depth perspective on contemporary Alaska Native societies,
   languages, cultures, history, politics, art, governments and corporations.

2. Academic Programs

   ---

   1. 
      Alaska Native Studies
      — Anchorage Campus
      
   2. 
      Alaska Native Studies
      — Kenai Peninsula College
      
   3. 
      Alutiiq Studies — Kodiak
      College
      
   4. Alaska Native Business Management Minor

3. Student Support

   ---

   1. Native Student Services
   2. Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP)
   3. 
      Alaska Native
      Community Advancement in Psychology (ANCAP)
      
   4. 
      Alaska Native, Indigenous & Rural Outreach
      Program (ANIROP)
      
   5. 
      Recruitment and Retention of
      Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN)
      

1. 
   Alaska Native Studies
   — Anchorage Campus
   
2. 
   Alaska Native Studies
   — Kenai Peninsula College
   
3. 
   Alutiiq Studies — Kodiak
   College
   
4. Alaska Native Business Management Minor

1. Native Student Services
2. Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP)
3. 
   Alaska Native
   Community Advancement in Psychology (ANCAP)
   
4. 
   Alaska Native, Indigenous & Rural Outreach
   Program (ANIROP)
   
5. 
   Recruitment and Retention of
   Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN)
   

View the slideshow on SmugMug.(All photos by James Evans, Chief of Photography and Videography, University of Alaska
Anchorage)

Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport is one of the top five busiest cargo airports in the world. Could the Port of Alaska in Anchorage become similar for seaports? It’s possible, as navigating through the Northwest Passage — an Arctic sea route through Alaska and Canada — looks increasingly practical due
to melting ice caused by climate change.

Anticipating this increase in northern shipping, UAA professor of structural engineering
Scott Hamel, P.E., Ph.D., began researching the determination of ice crushing forces on vertical piles with tidal-accreted ice, which was one of seven UAA research projects selected for the 2020 ConocoPhillips Arctic Science and Engineering Endowment Awards.

Dr. Hamel’s research is focused on how accreted ice — ice buildup between piles of
seaports and oil platforms — can act as a wall, greatly increasing the force from
incoming floating ice.

“If we know the accreted ice is weaker than the ice floe, the accreted ice will break
off and we can reduce the pile size because the pile will ‘look’ smaller to the incoming
surface ice,” said Jasmine Langmann, a UAA civil engineering alumna working under
Dr. Hamel for her master’s thesis. “Generally you overdesign because you want a factor
of safety. But if we're significantly overdesigning things — we can build bridges
so perfect they’re never going to fail, but it's going to be so exponentially expensive
and there's always a budget.”

To compare the shear strength of accreted ice versus the compressive strength of ice
floes, Langmann runs 8-inch cylindrical cores of accreted ice through compression
tests and sheared rectangular ice beams. She compares this to the strength of floating
sea ice from previous research. Samples were drilled from the Port of Alaska. Variables
taken into account in the calculations include the amount of sediment in the ice,
its elevation on the pile and its exposure to the sun.

In the future, it’s possible that accreted ice may be counted on to break away, allowing
the floating ice to pass between the piles. Currently, piles are designed to withstand
300 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure acting over the entire accreted width,
up to 10 feet. This could be reduced to just the width of the pile. That overdesign
represents millions of dollars more effectively spent elsewhere.

For now, Langmann’s findings for Dr. Hamel’s research could prove to be foundational.
As interest piques and work begins on utilizing Arctic sea routes — such as ongoing expansions to the Port of Alaska — research on accreted ice is just warming up.

“It's really important to continue to better understand the world around us and how
it's changing,” said Langmann. “Right now there’s not a ton of information on accreted
ice, so it’s kind of cool thinking that somebody might reference my thesis in their
search for knowledge.”

This press release was produced by the University of Alaska Anchorage. The views expressed here are the author’s own.