Frost Heave Dynamics at a Single Crystal Interface

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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.

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