Photo of the Week: Engineering Better Defenses Against Ice Buildup

Ice buildup, shown here on the Mount Washington Observatory, threatens power grids, transportation, and military operations. Dr. Emily Asenath-Smith at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory has created a vertical draw system that grows ice directly onto surfaces with precise control, enabling consistent, high-quality ice adhesion testing. Her patented invention eliminates the guesswork in evaluating anti-icing coatings, laying the groundwork for passive solutions not reliant on chemicals, heat, or added weight. By simulating real-world conditions in the lab, this research brings the military closer to safer, more resilient cold-weather infrastructure.

Photo Credit: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Sandra LeGrand