New generation of 3D icing engineering tools for liquid and snow conditions

Future air vehicle and propulsive systems architectures imply new methodologies to characterise ice accretion and its effects. Furthermore, changes in certification regulations, in particular for Supercooled Large Droplets (SDL), will require manufacturers to certify their products against more stringent requirements. Snow remains a challenge for turbine engines and APUs. The goal of the EU-funded ICE GENESIS project is to provide the European aeronautical industry with a validated new generation of 3D icing engineering tools (Icing Wind Tunnel capabilities and numerical simulation to predict ice accretion), as addressed by Appendix C, Appendix O, and snow conditions in the Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular for safe, efficient and cost effective design and certification of future aircraft and rotorcraft.

Objective

Current design methodologies used to characterise ice accretion and its effects on air vehicle components and power plant systems are mainly based on empirical methods, comparative analysis, 2D simulation tools and past experience gained on in-service products. Due to the associated uncertainties, cautious design margins are used, leading to conservative and non-optimised solutions. As future air vehicle and propulsive system architectures introduce radical design changes, it will no longer be possible to rely on the existing design methodologies, making future development extremely difficult to accomplish efficiently and within short development cycles that are demandedby customers and desired by industry. These difficulties are increased by the recent changes in certification regulations, in particular for Supercooled Large Droplets (SLD), which require manufacturers to certify their products against more stringent requirements. Snow also remains a challenge, especially for turbine engines and APUs. ICE GENESIS will provide the European aeronautical industry with a validated new generation of 3D icing engineering tools (numerical simulation tools and upgraded test capabilities), addressing App C, O and snow conditions, for safe, efficient, right first time, and cost effective design and certification of future regional, business and large aircraft, rotorcraft and engines. ICE GENESIS will permit weather hazards to be more precisely evaluated and properly mitigated thanks to adapted design or optimised protection through either active or passive means. Furthermore, ICE GENESIS will pave the way for 3D digital tools to be used in the future as acceptable means of compliance by the regulation authorities. Overall, ICE GENESIS will contribute to flight safety, reduced certification costs and increased operability.

For more info: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/824310 ↗