The Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) has been operating ice research facilities for more than 25 years. The main feature is the 78 m long, 10 m wide and 2.5 m deep ice model tank. A shallow water bottom covering the entire ice basin can be adjusted to simulate shallow water conditions or inland waterways. An air forced cooling system generates air temperatures as low as -20°C, by which the NaCl-doped water freezes at a rate of about 2 mm/hour. The mechanical ice properties of the model ice are correctly scaled in order to simulate the natural icebreaking processes. An advanced technique to improve the mechanical ice properties was developed and patented by HSVA. A motor-driven carriage runs up to 3 m/s and provides a towing force of 50 kN. Service carriages above as well as under water are available to carry experimental equipment, measuring devices and video cameras. Direct observation of the model tests is possible through windows in the tank bottom. According to Froude's and Cauchy's model laws the following ice conditions can be simulated in the tank:

  level ice
  rafted ice
  pressure ice ridges
  broken ice
  rubble ice/pack ice
  snow covered ice

The mechanical properties of these ice conditions are either determined in-situ or with special equipment in the ice mechanics laboratories.

Several kinds of model tests are commonly performed in the Large Ice Model Basin:



  resistance tests
  self-propulsion tests
  manoeuvring tests
  ice management in rivers and inland waterways

  ice forces on fixed structures (vertical or conical shaped)
  mooring forces on floating structures
  global ice forces on artificial islands
  ice forces on offshore loading terminals
  ice accumulation and ice pile-up on artificial islands
  and arctic harbours