Simulation of ice cover melting in turbulent flow

In Northern Regions, ice covers that form on rivers, streams, and lakes with the onset of winter, cause various problems related to winter navigation and pollution dispersion among others. Warm water, from industrial plants,discharged into these rivers cause partial or total melting of the ice cover over considerable distances. The present work investigates the melting of a thin non‐uniform ice cover subject to varying water and air temperatures under turbulent flow conditions. A two‐dimensional depth averaged turbulence model coupled with a heat transfer model is used to simulate laboratory conditions of ice cover melting. Computational results were compared with experimental investigations. The average melting of the ice cover was found to be in close agreement with the experimental measurements with the exception of the leading edge region.