Structural behaviour and construction of a monumental ice structure

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Structural Engineering
• Art Conservation

Background:

• Ice sculptures often lack structural integrity and durability.
• Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) offer potential for material reinforcement.
• Cellulose ice presents unique properties for composite material development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanical enhancement of ice-based materials using FRP.
• To analyze the structural performance of combined GFRP and cellulose ice.
• To assess the feasibility of these composite materials in monumental ice sculptures.

Main Methods:

• Three-point bending tests were conducted on GFRP and cellulose ice specimens.
• ABAQUS finite element analysis simulations were performed.
• The mechanical behavior of individual and combined materials was analyzed.
• A case study applied the findings to a monumental ice sculpture design.

Main Results:

• FRP incorporation significantly improves the tensile resistance of ice composites.
• Cellulose ice contributes to increased mass and ductility.
• ABAQUS simulations partially modeled the behavior but faced limitations beyond the elastic phase.
• The combined approach showed potential for enhanced structural performance.

Conclusions:

• Combining FRP and cellulose ice is a viable strategy for improving ice sculpture structural capacity.
• This composite approach offers enhanced bending performance for large-scale ice art.
• Further research is needed to refine simulation models for non-linear behavior.