Close-up analysis of inflight ice accretion

Abstract

The objective of this effort was to validate in flight, data that has been gathered in the NASA Lewis Research Center's Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) over the past several years. All data was acquired in flight on the NASA Lewis Research Center's Twin Otter Icing Research Aircraft. A faired 3.5 in. diameter metal-clad cylinder exposed to the natural icing environment was observed by a close-up video camera. The grazing angle video footage was recorded to S-VHS video tape and after the icing encounter, the resultant ice shape was documented by 35 mm photography and pencil tracings. The feather growth area was of primary interest; however, all regions of the ice accretion, from the stagnation line to the aft edge of run back were observed and recorded. After analysis of the recorded data several interesting points became evident: (1) the measured flight feather growth rate is consistent with IRT values, (2) the feather growth rate appears to be influenced by droplet size, (3) the feathers were straighter in the lower, spottier LWC of flight in comparison to those observed in the IRT, (4) feather shedding and ice sublimation may be significant to the final ice shape, and (5) the snow encountered on these flights appeared to have little influence on ice growth.