Chukchi Sea (2011)

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chukchi sea diagram smallDesign of the Chukchi weather station was accomplished as part of a design project by senior Civil Engineering students at the University of Alaska Anchorage where the structure of an engineering firm was simulated and a partnership with ConocoPhillips Alaska was utilized.

The environmental loads considered in the design included ice, wave, and wind.  Ice loads were the main concern being that ice covers the Chukchi Sea the majority of the year, and ice thicknesses can be very large.  These conditions are very extreme and were calculated based on data and advice supplied by ConocoPhillips and other engineering firms in the Anchorage community.

Several alternatives were considered for the design of the section exposed to environmental loads.  The alternatives included:

  1. A large gravity based structure with piles to eliminate the risk of sliding.
  2. A steel column structure with either 1, 3, or 4 pipe columns depending on loading.
  3. A composite column structure similar to the second alternative, only with steel and concrete piles.
More information is provided in the project documents.

Community Partner

  • ConocoPhillips Alaska

Project Lead

  • John Cologgi (ConocoPhillips)


  • Jeffrey Eide
  • Alexandra West

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