Detailed atmospheric ice accretion surface measurement using micro‐computed tomography

Abstract

Surfaces exposed to atmospheric cold temperature and humid environments are prone to ice accretion. Airplanes, electrical power transmission cables, and wind turbines are typical examples for which icing has to be considered. The measurement of the resulting ice shapes is a challenging process. While macroscopic characteristics of the ice geometry can be observed using photography and optical scanning techniques, microscopic measurements are difficult to conduct because grooved surface partially occludes the geometry of chasms. To overcome this optical inaccessibility, we propose a method to carry out detailed high-resolution measurements of the accretion surface with microcomputed tomography. This approach provides a unique visualization of the empty spaces in the feather region. The information obtained by this technique can improve the understanding of ice accretion physics and its computational modeling.

Internal and interfacial microstructure characterization of ice droplets on surfaces by X-ray computed tomography

“…In comparison with the very few studies in this domain, the present research focuses on the ice and surface simultaneously (instead of only focusing on the bulk ice [28,[32][33][34][35][36]). Furthermore, employing a higher resolution (voxel size of 3.6 µm) unravelling additional details.…”

“…Velandia et al [32] used XCT to analyze the geometry of accreted ice on an airfoil. For this purpose, they have replicated the shape of accreted ice using a mold and cast approach.…”

Flow Evolution Monitoring for Aircraft Icing Study

“…Official statistics based on the analysis of aviation accidents in recent years, report aircraft icing as the predominant external cause of the accident (Cao et al, 2018, McClain et al, 2018, Velandia and Bansmer, 2020. So, the effect of icing on the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft attracts a lot of attention from the scientific community.…”

Porosity formation during atmospheric ice accretion: measurements using micro-computed tomography

“…The wide range of applications dealing with icing encounters encourages the study of such a complex phenomenon. Some of the aspects studied in this area include the thickness of the ice and the roughness of its surface because they compromise the aerodynamic performance in engineering applications (Velandia and Bansmer, 2020). The characteristics of this layer depend on the icing conditions of the encounter (Gent and others, 2000).…”