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arXiv · 2303.13428

Polycrystallinity enhances stress build-up around ice

Dominic Gerber·Lawrence A. Wilen·Eric R. Dufresne·Robert W. Style
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Abstract

Damage caused by freezing wet, porous materials is a widespread problem, but is hard to predict or control. Here, we show that polycrystallinity makes a great difference to the stress build-up process that underpins this damage. Unfrozen water in grain-boundary grooves feeds ice growth at temperatures below the freezing temperature, leading to the fast build-up of localized stresses. The process is very variable, which we ascribe to local differences in ice-grain orientation, and to the surprising mobility of many grooves -- which further accelerates stress build-up. Our work will help understand how freezing damage occurs, and in developing accurate models and effective damage-mitigation strategies.

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Dominic Gerber, Lawrence A. Wilen, Eric R. Dufresne, Robert W. Style. 2023-03-23. Polycrystallinity enhances stress build-up around ice. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.131.208201

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