The measurement instrumentation of MV "Polarstern" for an icebreaking expedition

The design of the vessel, as well as the local hull construction of an icebreaking ship is largely based on empirical data obtained from vessels operating in the Baltic Sea.

The design of the vessel, as well as the local hull construction of an icebreaking ship is largely based on empirical data obtained from vessels operating in the Baltic Sea.
In order to verify the suitability of the vessel in arctic waters and to confirm the as-sumptions made during its design, the research vessel Polarstern undertook a scienti-fically-based icebreaking expedition into the level and pack ice area, east of Labrador.

Extensive instrumentation was installed on the Polarstern to determine the static and dynamic loading effects in the vessel arising from contact with the ice. The deter-mination of the loading was accomplished by a variety of transducers such as strain gages, displacement transducers, accelerometers and temperature sensors. The trans-ducer signals were routed to a central measurement station and there evaluated and recorded with the aid of a computer.