Frost Heave Dynamics at a Single Crystal Interface

Abstract

We study flow in a surface-melted layer of a single crystal of ice at a plane solid interface. The flow, which is induced by a temperature gradient in the melted layer, causes the ice to grow normal to the interface. The process is the basis for frost heave in frozen soils. Flow is observed in a limited range of temperatures near the melting point, implying that surface melting is absent below this range. The data are analyzed in terms of a model which allows estimates of the fluid layer thickness. The results are not consistent with interfacial melting due to purely van der Waals forces.