Electromechanical resonant ice protection systems: numerical investigation through a phase-field mixed adhesive/brittle fracture model

Abstract

Electromechanical resonant de-icing systems provide a low-energy solution against ice accumulation on aircraft. Recent researches show a growing interest towards these systems in the context of more electrical aircraft. Electromechanical de-icing systems consists in electric actuators producing stress within the ice, through micro-vibrations of the surface to be protected, leading to bulk or adhesive failure and, ultimately, ice shedding. The understanding of the mechanisms at play is of prime importance in order to design efficient ice protection systems. Despite a large number of studies in the literature, there is still a lack when dealing with fracture propagation phenomena in this context. In this work the authors propose a model based on the well established phase-field variational approach to fracture. The approach is applied to the study of crack propagation and debonding of ice under the effect of an electromechanical resonant de-icing system. Numerical experiments are performed in order to assess possible ice shedding mechanisms.