Rotating Testing of a Low-Power, Non-Thermal Ultrasonic De-icing System for Helicopter Rotor Blades Penn State Univ

Format:

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Overmeyer, Overmeyer, author.

Contributor:

Palacios, Jose Luis

Royer, Roger

Smith, Edward C.

Conference Name:

SAE 2011 International Conference on Aircraft and Engine Icing and Ground Deicing (2011-06-13 : Chicago, Illinois, United States)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 2011

Summary:

Ultrasonic excitation has proven to provide ice interface transverse shear stresses exceeding the adhesion strength of freezer and wind tunnel ice to various metals, promoting instantaneous ice delamination. Prior proof-of-concept testing presented issues related to piezoelectric actuator cracking under ultrasonic tensile excitation, as well as actuator debonding from the host structure. The aim of this research is to provide solutions to the actuator reliability issues encountered during prior research and to perform rotor icing testing to validate the proposed solutions. Three different approaches are taken to solve the issues related with actuator failure during de-icing processes: custom-designed controllers to ensure the excitation of desired ultrasonic resonance modes, compression only driving of the actuator, and optimization of actuator thickness. The novel driving conditions and geometry of the actuation system is modeled using finite elements and tested at the Penn State Adverse Environment Rotor Test Stand, where representative centrifugal forces are reproduced during ice impact testing. The ice protection capabilities of the ultrasonic de-icing were evaluated at twelve different icing conditions (over 1 hours of active testing). The improved controller and actuator geometry demonstrated that ultrasonic de-icing techniques are able to delaminate thin layers ( 2 mm) of accreted ice under representative centrifugal forces without actuator failure. Ultrasonic ice protection under rotating environments is presented, as thin layers of ice were continuously delaminated from the leading edge of the blade. The recorded power requirements averaged 0.37 W/cm₂ (2.4 W/in₂) (90% reduction with respect to electro-thermal de-icing)

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

2011-38-0098

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license