Aerodynamic Fidelity of Sub-scale Two-Dimensional Ice Accretion Simulations
Greg Busch, Andy Broeren, and Michael B. Bragg
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 61801
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to quantify the accuracy with which two-dimensional ice
accretion simulations can be used on a 1/4-scale airfoil model at low Reynolds number to simulate
the aerodynamics of ice accreted on a full-scale airfoil model at high Reynolds number. Six full scale
ice accretion castings, representing ice roughness, streamwise ice, horn ice, and spanwiseridge
ice, were previously tested in the ONERA F1 wind tunnel at Re = 12.0 x 106 and M = 0.20.
These castings were digitized and measured to create sub-scale 2-D smooth and simple-geometry
simulations, which were tested in the University of Illinois 3 x 4 ft. wind tunnel at Re = 1.8 x 106
and M = 0.18. Cl, Cm, and Cd for each sub-scale simulation was compared with the corresponding
full-scale casting. Geometrically-scaled simulations of the horn-ice and spanwise-ridge ice
castings modeled Cl,max to within 2% and Cd,min to within 15%. Geometrically-scaled simulations
of the ice roughness and streamwise ice tended to have conservative Cl,max and Cd. The
aerodynamic performance of simulations of these types of accretion was found to be sensitive to
roughness height and concentration. Scaled roughness heights smaller than those found on the
casting were necessary to improve simulation accuracy, resulting in Cl,max and Cd,min within 3%
and 5% of the casting, respectively. Removing highly three-dimensional features, such as ice
feathers, that became two-dimensional in the creation of 2-D smooth simulations was found to
improve simulation aerodynamic fidelity.