ABSTRACT
A field program was undertaken in 2017 to (i) measure the loads in the ice sheet near a dam and (ii) observe the behavior of the ice sheet with controlled water level regulation of the reservoir. The field program was conducted at Dam Taraldsvikfossen in Narvik. Three different experiments were tested with 0.06, 0.22 and 0.35 m water level variations. During the experiment with the lowest water level variation, it was considered that the ice load was reduced due to the variation in water level. The maximum ice load was measured at 85 kN/m during the experiment with the highest variation in water level. It was concluded that the size of cracks, the number of cracks and the % freezing of cracks in an ice cover had a major impact on the ice load. These parameters, together with water level variation, ice thickness and temperature variation, had the greatest impact on both the maximum value of the load and the ice sheet behavior. In an overall assessment of all the components presented in the thesis, it was concluded that today‘s knowledge of ice loads is insufficient. Since it is a very complicated material to calculate, it is necessary to carry out more measurement programs in the field in the future.
