SEA-ICE BEARING STRENGTH IN ANTARCTICA - AIRCRAFT LOAD CURVES FOR MCMURDO ICE RUNWAY

Abstract

To update the operating criteria for C-121, C-124, C-130, C-141, and C-5 aircraft in the Antarctic, the bearing capacity of the McMurdo annual sea- ice sheet was analyzed for short-term loading. The load curves developed by elastic theory predict the ice thickness required as related to the changing strength characteristic of the ice sheet associated with the seasonal warming trend. These load curves provide operating criteria that are more related to the ice-sheet temperature than the operating criteria now in use. This analysis is only an interim solution in the development of aircraft operating criteria; continued research is needed to provide a better understanding of the ice-sheet response to both short- and long-term loads. The load curves and instructions presented in Appendix B are recommended to replace the present operating criteria appearing in NCEL Technical Note N-888, 'Interim Aircraft Load Curves for Sea-Ice Runways at McMurdo, Antarctica.'

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0694954

Entities

People

  • J. E. Dykins

Organizations

  • Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Landings
  • Aircrafts
  • Antarctica
  • Bearing Capacity
  • Bearing Strength
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Programming
  • Engineering
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Flexural Strength
  • Landing Gear
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Nose Wheels
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Test Methods
  • Water

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Polar and Arctic Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design