An Experimental and Computational Investigation of
Spanwise-Step-Ice Shapes On Airfoil Aerodynamics
S. Lee, T. Dunn, H.M. Gurbacki, M.B. Bragg and E. Loth
University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
ABSTRACT
The objective of this research was to study the effects of
spanwise-step-ice accretions (resulting from large droplet icing
conditions) on subsonic aircraft aerodynamics. The airfoil investigated
was a modified NACA 23012 with a simple flap. An experimental and
computational program was conducted using simulated ice accretions to
determine the sensitivity of ice shape size and location on airfoil
performance and control as a function of angle of attack and flap
deflection. Focus is paid on the critical conditions where the
aerodynamic
performance, and the hinge moment in particular, changes rapidly and
non-linearly. The experimental program included wake surveys, surface pressure taps, and force-balance measurements to obtain lift, drag,
pitching moment, and hinge-moment coefficients for a large variety of
geometry and flow conditions. The accompanying computational
investigation
was performed with a high-resolution full Navier-Stokes solution using a
solution-adaptive unstructured grid for both non-iced and iced
configurations. Results are presented for experiments and predictions of
sectional aerodynamic characteristics where the quarter-round ice shape
heights of 0.0083 and 0.0139 chords resulted in a dramatic decrease in
maximum lift coefficients as well as significant reductions in
hinge moments for positive angles of attack.