Student: Max Person, Undergraduate Student in Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University
Research Mentor: Hui Hu and Yang Liu
An Experimental Investigation on the Dynamic Ice Accretion Process over a Rotating UAS Propeller
The experiment was inspired by two things: the change in flight technology and the threat that cold weather can have on aircraft. UAS (unmanned aircraft system) can be used for security, search and rescue, disaster management, military, and many more things. As with most new technologies, there are some drawbacks. Most UASs are powered by propellers which at low temperatures can become hazardous due to the accumulation of ice. Ice buildup on the propellers can drastically decrease the aerodynamic performance of a UAS and in some cases, make it impossible to fly. So, with the goal of creating an all-weather UAS, we have begun to look for solutions to propeller icing. To begin the test, we will look at propeller design and how ice tends to form over the surface of the blades. During the test, we will use the Iowa State University Icing Wind Tunnel to examine the transient ice accretion process on UAS propeller blades. After examining our findings, we hope to find further insight on how the ice accretion process forms and how it can be minimalized/negated.