An experimental study on the tensile properties of atmospheric ice

The intrinsic problem of formation and accumulation of atmospheric ice on structures, such as power electric transmission lines and communication equipment, has in recent years resurrected much interest. However, the mechanical properties of the accreted atmospheric ice are not abundantly recognized and, therefore, analytical modeling of circumstantial material is not conceivable. For this purpose, an experimental investigation into the mechanical behavior of atmospheric ice in uniaxial tension has been conducted using conditions generally favorable to brittle fracture and microcracking. The atmospheric ice is grown from supercooled water droplets impinging on an aluminum cylinder rotating at 1 rpm in the test section of the closed-loop wind tunnel. Ice tensile strength was measured as a function of test temperature varying from − 5 to − 15 °C, wind speed during accumulation varying from 10 to 20 m/s, and strain rate ranging from 2.22 × 10− 6 to 1.67 × 10− 3 s− 1. The details of specimen preparation, testing procedure and strength test results are discussed. The fracture mechanism for atmospheric ice is also discussed, and the test results are compared with data reported by previous investigators. A mathematical model was developed using Minitab-15 software to predict the effect of ice accumulation conditions on the tensile strength. Detailed analysis indicates that the interaction coefficients of these variables do not appear to contribute significantly to the tensile strength of atmospheric ice.

► Formation and accumulation of atmospheric ice on structures
► Mechanical properties of the accreted atmospheric ice.
► Fracture mechanism for atmospheric ice.