Author(s): Wang Ronghui; Chen Xiaodong; Kai Sun; Shunying Ji
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Dfreeze strength; Ice temperature; Ship surface materials; Ice adhesion; Low-temperature mechanical testing
Abstract: Adfreeze strength is a critical mechanical parameter in the safe design of polar ships, offshore platforms, and infrastructure in cold regions. Its magnitude is influenced not only by material properties but also exhibits strong sensitivity to ice temperature, which poses significant challenges for engineering applications. In this study, experimental measurements of normal and tangential adfreeze strength were conducted at low temperatures ranging from −10 °C to −28 °C for three typical ship surface materials, namely styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), and painted steel. A large amount of adfreeze strength data was obtained using a self-developed freezing mold and an integrated loading and data acquisition system. The experimental results indicate that, for all the tested materials, both the mean and maximum values of normal and tangential adfreeze strength increase with decreasing temperature. For the same material, the tangential adfreeze strength is generally higher than the normal adfreeze strength. In addition, the scatter of adfreeze strength increases significantly as temperature decreases. Different materials also show distinct temperature dependences of adfreeze strength.
Year: 2026