Journal of Cold Regions Engineering

Physical and numerical models were used to assess ice passage at navigation locks, focusing on key factors such as the design of the lock filling and emptying system and the intakes to the lock filling culverts. Unconventional ice passage techniques such as manifolds in the miter gates were also evaluated. Physical model results were compared to field observations and to a parallel series of tests using the DynaRICE ice-hydraulic numerical model. The study focused on three general ice processes at locks: (1) ice accumulating near culvert intakes during lock filling; (2) drawing ice into the lock chamber; and (3) flushing ice out of the lock. Ice accumulation thickness in the upper lock approach was found to be the most important parameter affecting ice passage into the lock chamber. Physical and numerical model results compared reasonably well, proving DynaRICE to be a useful tool for assessing ice passage for new lock designs.

Durability characteristics of some argillaceous clastic rocks from cold regions are investigated. Two sets of experiments, namely slake durability (wet-dry) and freeze-thaw tests, were conducted on welded tuff, carbonates (limestone and dolomite), sandstone, and schist samples collected from northern parts of Japan and from the higher Himalayas of Nepal. The slaking tests were performed in pure water and seawater as well as in aqueous solution of different salinity. A tendency to decrease in slake durability with an increase in porosity is observed. The results reveal that the slake durability of a rock increases with an increase in the concentration of salt in water. Freeze-thaw experiments conducted on welded tuff and schist reveal that crack initiates earlier but extends slower in schist than in welded tuff and that the tuff deteriorates and wears faster than the schist.