Abstract
The physics underlying frost and ice formation has been extensively studied over the past few decades, with significant contributions to our understanding of this phenomenon. These insights have primarily been applied to engineering systems with refrigerated surfaces, such as refrigerators, freezers and heat pumps of various sizes. Despite considerable progress, the dynamic and complex mechanisms governing frost and ice formation remain an active area of research, as competing factors continue to challenge predictive accuracy. The increasing interest from stakeholders in reducing energy consumption and carbon footprints in mechanical systems further underscores the importance of advancing modelling and simulation capabilities in this domain. This article critically reviews recent advances in frost and ice formation modelling, with a focus on identifying key research gaps and opportunities for further exploration.This article is part of the theme issue 'Heat and mass transfer in frost and ice'.