Utilization of Single Cantilever Beam Test for Characterization of Ice Adhesion

Many engineering systems operating in a cold environment are challenged by ice accretion, which unfavorably affects their aerodynamics and degrades both their performance and safety. Precise characterization of ice adhesion is crucial for an effective design of ice protection system. In this paper, a fracture mechanics-based approach incorporating single cantilever beam test is used to characterize the near mode-I interfacial adhesion of a typical ice/aluminum interface with different surface roughness. In this asymmetric beam test, a thin layer of ice is formed between a fixed and elastically deformable beam subjected to the applied loading. The measurements showed a range of the interfacial adhesion energy (G_IC) between 0.11 and 1.34 J/m ², depending on the substrate surface roughness. The detailed inspection of the interfacial ice fracture surface, using fracture surface replication technique, revealed a fracture mode transition with the measured macroscopic fracture toughness. The higher level of fracture toughness was associated with cohesive-type interfacial failure. The lower level of fracture toughness on smoother surfaces was associated with adhesive interface failure.