Evaluation of structural loading algorithm for ship-ice collisions during simulator training

Miller, Logan P. (2023) Evaluation of structural loading algorithm for ship-ice collisions during simulator training. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Simulator training is an attractive option for ice navigation training, as it lacks the financial and safety risk of real-world training. An important aspect of effective ship operation in ice is the ability of the operator to understand the capacity of their structure with regard to ice loads, but simulators lack advanced systems to help build on this experience. To this end, an algorithm was developed that can be used to provide simulator trainees with real-time feedback about structural loads from ship-ice collisions during simulator training. The methodology presented demonstrates how to determine a safe limit of collision energy for a given ship structure using non-linear finite element analysis. The calculation is then given for an example structure of Polar Class PC7. The algorithm is then implemented in a training simulator to calculate individual loads, and a user interface developed to communicate the magnitude of individual loads as compared to the pre-determined safe thresholds. An experimental campaign was designed to test the benefit of the system as a training tool. The campaign involved putting human participants through a series of ice navigation training scenarios, either with or without the benefit of the real-time feedback system. Eighteen participants, each novices without any seafaring experience, were recruited. Participants were assessed on a number of performance and safety metrics, such as time to complete the objective, average speed, and number of unsafe collisions. The results suggest that participants with real-time feedback were more comfortable with and were better able to judge ice-collisions during the training. The results also found that participants with access to real-time feedback were able to perform significantly faster in emergency scenarios, without greatly exceeding the capacity of their ship, as compared to participants who did not benefit from feedback.

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