COLD REGIONS TECHNICAL DIGEST NO. 96-1
6
Table 1. Information on successful ice boom designs.
Structure
size
Location
type
Function*
Material
ft (m)
St. Lawrence River
Single
icfs, p
Douglas fir
Rectangular
1.2 1.8 30
International Section
timber
fr, br
(0.4 0.5 9)
Lake Erie, Buffalo,
Single
icfs, p
Douglas fir
Rectangular
1.2 1.8 30
New York
timber
fr, br, fl
(0.4 0.5 9)
Lake Erie, Buffalo,
Single
icfs, p
Steel
Circular
2.6 30
New York
pipe
fr, br, fl
(0.76 9.1)
Lake St. Peter,
Single
icfs, p
Douglas fir
Rectangular
1.2 1.8 30 ft
St. Lawrence River
timber
(0.4 0.5 9)
St. Marys River,
Single
n
Douglas fir
Rectangular
1.0 2.0 20
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
timber
brash
(0.3 0.6 6)
Lake St. Peter,
Single
icfs, n
Steel pipe
Circular
2.0 diam. 30
St. Lawrence River
pontoon
(0.6 diam. 9)
Allegheny River,
Single
icfs, ijr
Steel,
Rectangular
1.3 2.7 20
Oil City, Pennsylvania
pontoon
foam filled
(0.4 0.8 6)
Beauharnois Canal,
Double
icfs, n, p
Hollow
Parallel,
3 diam. 20
St. Lawrence River
pontoon
steel
6 on center
(0.9 diam. 6
1.8 on center)
1 1 20
Salmon River, Idaho
Triple
icfs
Douglas fir
(0.3 0.3 6)
timber
*icfs
=
ice cover formation and stabilization
ijr
=
ice jam reduction
p
=
hydroelectric power
n
=
navigation
widths upstream from the structure (U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers 1982). In other words, beyond three to five river widths
upstream of the boom, forces on the ice cover are transferred
laterally to the banks rather than to the boom. This assumption is
greatly influenced by the ice cover type and the degree to which
the ice is attached to the shore. A full explanation is beyond the
scope of this report, but important factors are the ice piece size,
ice cover thickness, and the river width, as well as the cohesion
and the angle of internal friction of the ice accumulation. During
the initial formation period, the greatest forces typically occur
when the ice cover is the least consolidated. Peak force levels
may also occur just before breakup, as the ice cover begins to
fracture and detach from the shores. Once the ice pieces freeze to
each other and to the banks, the force on the boom can fall off
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