Computational Prediction of Propeller Performance in Icing Conditions
Greg Busch and Michael B. Bragg
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 61801
ABSTRACT
The objective of this investigation was to develop a computational methodology to
quantify propeller performance in icing conditions and to identify areas where additional
research is required. Propeller blade-section ice geometry was predicted using the ice
accretion code LEWICE, the corresponding degradation in blade-section aerodynamic
performance was predicted using the RANS code Fluent, and the blade-section performance
was correlated to propeller performance with a blade-element code utilizing vortex theory.
The results of this process were compared to experimental data obtained during a full-scale
propeller icing test conducted at McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin AFB. Ice shedding
was found to be significant during these tests, and LEWICE was only able to accurately
predict blade-section ice geometries by accounting for this shedding using experimental
observations. Fluent predictions of blade-section aerodynamic performance were compared
with experimental measurements obtained with artificial ice shapes in an earlier part of this
investigation; agreement ranged from poor to good, depending on the blade section and ice
geometry. The resulting predictions in clean and iced propeller performance were within
10% of the experimentally-measured values for two of the three icing conditions presented,
and within 17% for the third set of conditions. This study has identified areas where
research is needed to improve the accuracy of the predictions.