Study on the Friction Improvement of Ice Surfaces and Evaluation Methods for Ice–Snow Runway Surfaces

Friction performance impacts the safety of aircraft takeoffs and landings on ice–snow runways in polar regions. However, there is a lack of systematic research on friction enhancement for runways and assessment methods for ice–snow runway surfaces. This study replicated a range of ice and snow conditions within a low-temperature environmental chamber. The friction performance of ice and snow surfaces was evaluated using the British Pendulum Tester (BPT). To enhance ice-surface friction, two modification strategies—surface grooving and fiber incorporation—were proposed and examined. The effects of groove spacing, fiber content, and ambient temperature on the friction coefficient were systematically investigated, leading to the derivation of an empirical formula. Furthermore, the sliding-distance test was developed to verify the results. Combined with the test results, a new ice–snow runway condition assessment matrix (ISRCAM) was proposed to evaluate the surface condition of the ice–snow runway. The study shows that the friction performance of snow–ice conditions, in descending order, is removed snow, dry snow, wet snow, ice, and wet ice. Grooving and adding wood fibers are effective in improving the friction performance of ice surfaces. Grooving can increase the friction value by up to 57%, with the optimal groove spacing being 2–5 cm, which can also mitigate the reduction in friction performance caused by rising temperatures. The relationship between the friction coefficient and the fiber content follows a cubic function pattern. The optimal fiber content to improve the friction performance of the ice surface is 0.4%–0.5%. Furthermore, the average sliding friction coefficient increases linearly with increasing local friction coefficient. The friction coefficient obtained from the BPT tests is generally greater than the average sliding friction coefficient. The proposed ISRCAM could be used to evaluate the surface condition of ice–snow runways effectively. Although laboratory-based, these results provide valuable indications for the safe operation of aircraft in polar regions, as well as for the effective management and maintenance of ice–snow runway surfaces.