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A team from the USA rotorcraft industry, NASA, and academia was established to create a validated high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) icing tool for rotorcraft. Previous work showed that an oscillating blade with a periodic variation in angle of attack causes changes in the accreted ice shape and this makes a significant change in the airfoil drag. Although there is extensive data for ice accumulation on a stationary airfoil section, high-quality icing-tunnel data on an oscillating airfoil is scarce for validating the rotorcraft icing problem. In response to this need, a two-dimensional (2D) oscillating airfoil icing test was recently performed in the Icing Research Tunnel at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Three leading-edge specimens for an existing 15-inch chord test apparatus were designed and instrumented to provide the necessary data for the CFD code validation.

As part of icing certification flight test programs, artificial ice shapes are typically installed onto aircraft fixed leading edges in order to quantify changes to the handling qualities and performance characteristics of the aircraft in icing conditions. Artificial ice shapes allow a test team to evaluate what are generally the worst combinations of flight conditions for different ice protection system configurations. The goal of this paper is to discuss the details behind the design, development, construction, and installation of artificial ice shapes as they pertained to the evaluation of the need for horizontal stabilizer ice protection on the BA609 Tiltrotor with a focus on the extrapolation methods used to design the shapes.

An integrated approach for modeling the ice accretion and shedding of ice on helicopter rotors is presented. A modular framework is used that includes state of the art computational fluid dynamics, computational structural dynamics, rotor trim, ice accretion, and shedding tools. Results are presented for performance degradation due to icing, collection efficiency, surface temperature and water film properties associated with runback-refreeze phenomena, and shedding. Comparisons with other published simulations and test data are given.

As the technology in rotor deicing matures, more programs are willing to engage in the certification of their helicopters for flight into icing conditions. The S-92A™ helicopter, AW139, V-22, and EC225 aircraft have been certified/qualified recently and are illustrative examples of such engagement. The state-of-the-art configuration definition of rotor ice protection systems that have been introduced into the western rotorcraft manufacturer's production line has been limited to electro-thermal deicing systems. System configurations may use either chordwise or spanwise shedding schemes and could differ in design and operation. Regardless of the selected design configuration, an analysis of the required extent of protection coverage must be performed unless one has access to data offering sufficient similitude in terms of airfoil geometry and flight conditions.

The entire process from ice accretion to ice impact with ice shedding in between still needs refinement. This paper presents key points illustrating the need for improvements in understanding the mechanical properties of ice accretion on helicopter rotor systems.