
14 March 2023
International interest in university ice research
Many people are interested in the ice research conducted at the Luleå University of Technology, both within the research community and the society. In February, a German TV delegation from the TV company NDR visited Sweden to follow and take part in some of the many winter activities taking place in the Bay of Bothnia.
For one day, the team followed PhD student and building materials researcher Vasiola Zhaka to participate in her ice research activities.
"We visited the icebreaker channel near Luleå harbor where the ice condition was observed, and ice cores were drilled out to be studied more closely at the MCE laboratory. In the laboratory, we looked at the microstructure of ice and finally tested the strength of the ice," says Vasiola Zhaka.
"The purpose of my research is to investigate the factors that affect the most ice solidification after the ice has broken up and to model the ice growth in the ship tracks. The results can be used to ease daily marine operations and can be used to estimate the forces to which icebreakers, ports, bridges, platforms, and other structures are subjected. By better understanding the forces an icebreaker is exposed to, the captain can adjust the engine power and thus promote sustainability around our ice fairways," says Vasiola Zhaka, a researcher in building materials at the Luleå University of Technology.
In the film above, the feature about ice research starts about 15.30 minutes into the film.
Building Materials include sustainable building materials and their application technologies, recycling, and reuse, and applied building physics, especially focusing on the arctic conditions.
The Luleå University of Technology has been researching snow and ice for many years. They are about everything from winter tests of new cars to building structures or how snow and ice can be used for cooling. Large temperature changes constantly provide new challenges for researchers.
- Ostsee Report - Film and text report
External link, opens in new window.
NDR TV Germany - Ice research approx. 3.30 p.m
Mining and Civil Engineering Lab is the largest laboratory at Luleå University of Technology and have a wide range of activities. Mostly we do:
- Mechanical testing on steel, wood and concrete
- Rockmechanical testing
- Geotechnical testing
- Outdoor measurements
- Analyses and enquiries.
Published:
Updated: