Improving mechanical ice protection systems with topology optimization

Abstract

In the context of more electrical aircraft, electromechanical de-icing systems provide a low-energy solution to protect aircraft’s surfaces from ice buildup. Such systems produce deformation of the protected surface leading to a stress production within the ice and, ultimately, to ice shedding thanks to fracture. However, these systems may show limitations when it comes to completely protect a given surface. Ice delamination is often restricted to a part of the surface and the remaining ice either requires more energy to be removed or is just impossible to remove. In this paper, topology optimization of the substrate covered by ice is thus investigated to increase fracture propagation and ice shedding. For that purpose, an optimization problem, involving the energy release rate but also the mass and the substrate stress, is formulated. The numerical results show how the delamination efficiency of mechanical based ice protection systems can be improved through the topology modification of the substrate.