Ice accretion simulation incorporating roughness effects and separation correction through a transition model

Abstract

In the simulations of ice accretion, accurately modeling the impact of surface roughness and calculating the separated flow are crucial aspects. A modified laminar–turbulent transition model that incorporates both separation and roughness-induced transition correction is employed for icing simulations. An iced airfoil was selected to validate the modified model's predictive capability for large separation, and a rough airfoil was utilized to assess the modified model's capability in simulating roughness effects. Icing simulations under different conditions are conducted for an airfoil. The results indicate that roughness induces an earlier laminar–turbulent transition, thereby influencing the heat transfer coefficients. The effects of separation and roughness correction on rime icing simulation are minimal, but they are significant for glaze icing simulation, resulting in more accurate predictions of maximum ice thickness and ice horn orientation. The simulated glaze ice causes more pronounced separation and more substantial reductions in lift compared to simulated rime ice. The modified model can accurately predict the separation bubble and reduce the prediction error of lift over 60%.