A Complementary Framework to Predict Ice Adhesion Failure

Ice adhesion characterization relies heavily on experimental data, especially when dealing with fracture parameters. In this paper, a complementary framework encompassing experimental testing with the numerical treatment of the fracture variables is proposed to provide a physical description of adhesive fracture propagation at the interface of an iced structure. The tests are based on a quasi-static flexural testing setup composed of a displacement-driven actuator and an iced plate. The measured crack length and plate deflection provide the data to be analyzed by the Virtual Crack Closure Technique in order to approximate the critical energy release rate required to study adhesive fracture propagation. The critical energy release rate in mode II is under-predicted and its value is approximated using its counterpart in mode I. The Cohesive Zone Model is then implemented to assess adhesive fracture propagation using a bi-linear traction-displacement law with the calculated fracture parameters. The sensitivity of CZM results to variations in CZM model parameters is evaluated and non-impacting parameters are determined for this particular test configuration.