Water-Mist Ice Brake-Concept Proof

This study investigates the theoretical and experimental feasibility of a water-mist ice brake (WMIB) system. A WMIB system uses warm water mist to form strong bonds between a tire and an icy pavement, thus replacing the low ice-friction force with a high ice-adhesion force. In a WMIB system, the front of an automotive tire is sprayed with a warm water mist, creating a thin layer of water that freezes rapidly upon contact with cold pavement. This process establishes a strong bond between the tires and the pavement. Depending on the environmental conditions, the bonding strength can exceed the tire friction force on dry pavements. During continuous motion, the tire surface is cooled by heat conduction and convection, thereby maintaining an overall thermal balance. This principle is effective at air/ice temperatures below -1 °C. The theoretical calculations for this method and proof-of-concept experimental results are presented. The theoretical analysis includes analytical calculations. The theoretical analysis of each stage of the water mist droplet traveling from the mist nozzle to the cold tire, tire –ice contact point, and finally, complete freezing, was conducted. MathCad 15 was used for the calculations. Small-scale experimental research on a 0.15 m rubber tire rolling on an ice platform was conducted over a wide range of temperatures from -1 °C to -12 °C. The study confirmed the WMIB principle and found that the technology can increase the friction on ice above that on dry pavement. Although the developed theoretical model of the WMIB is an approximation and experimental testing was performed on a small tire, this study is the first experimental proof the WMIB principle.