Advances in Frazil Ice Evolution Mechanisms and Numerical Modelling in Rivers and Channels in Cold Regions

Abstract

Frazil ice comprises millimeter-sized ice crystal particles or flocculations in water, and its generation and evolution primarily occur during the initial stage of the river ice process. Meanwhile, ice damage caused by frazil ice is common, so it is crucial to determine its generation and evolution mechanisms to develop a full understanding of the river ice processes, the prediction of ice development, and ice damage prevention. The recent developments in frazil ice research and modeling are summarized in this article. From the perspectives of field measurements and laboratory experiments, the techniques and methods for observing frazil ice are reviewed, including the flow generation, temperature control, and observation techniques necessary for laboratory observations of frazil ice, as well as the challenging observation techniques used for field measurements. Frazil ice’s evolution mechanisms (nucleation, thermal growth, secondary nucleation, collisional fragmentation, and flocculation) are affected by water temperature processes. Work on the movement and distribution of frazil ice is also presented. A review of the current numerical models used to assess frazil ice evolution is conducted. Moreover, the open issues and potential future research topics are suggested.

The Use of UAV for Measuring the Morphology of Ice Cover on the Surface of a River: A Case Study of the Low Head Dam and Fishway Inlet Area in the Odra River

“…This process is referred to as flocculation [9]. The production mechanism of frazil ice follows a consistent pattern, which can be illustrated by a typical test curve depicted in Figure 1 (e.g., [4,[10][11][12][13]). Furthermore, a vital notion is worth considering-it is important to note that this relationship holds true only in the absence of snowfall.…”

“…The observation and study of frazil ice floe and ice phenomena in natural watercourses and reservoirs are challenging due to the random nature of these processes and the diversity of natural conditions. Therefore, to gain a better understanding of phenomena related to frazil ice, laboratory studies are conducted, allowing for the precise control of operating devices (such as pumps and turbines) by regulating flow conditions and temperature [13]. Additionally, these studies enable the more effective observation of occurring processes, utilizing a variety of measurement tools and methods, such as shadow photography [19], Laser Doppler Velocimeter optical system [20], a self-constructed electroresistant instrument [21], filters [6], optical instruments [22], shallow water ice profile sonar (SWIPS) (e.g., [23][24][25]), acoustic instruments like ADCP (e.g., [26][27][28][29][30]), and machine learning models [31].…”