The finite element method is used to simulate the navigation of an ice-area bulk carrier in broken ice fields. The ice material is defined as elastic, and the simulations are accomplished at four model speeds and three ice concentrations. The movements of ice floes in the simulation are consistent with those in the model test, and the percentage deviation of the numerical ice resistance from the ice resistance in the model test can be controlled to be less than 15 %. The key characteristics of ice loads, including the average ice loads, extreme ice loads, and characteristic frequency, are analyzed thoroughly in a comprehensive manner. Moreover, the effects of sailing speed and ice concentration on the ice loads are analyzed. In particular, the stress distribution of ice floes is presented to help understand how model speed and concentration affect the ice loads. The “ice pressure” phenomenon is observed at 90 % ice concentration, and it is realistically reflected both in the time–and frequency–domain ice force curves.
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