Numerical simulation and aerodynamic performance effects of multi-element airfoil ice accretion

Icing simulation of a 30P30N multi-element airfoil is conducted to explore the aerodynamic characteristics influenced by ice shape on the multi-element airfoil under different inflow conditions. An improved multi-time step calculation method based on the Myers icing phase transition model is proposed. A robust and efficient Lagrangian water collection calculation is realized by introducing the minimum wall distance. The local mesh repair technique is applied to improve the robustness of mesh reconstruction under complex ice conditions. The calculation results show that the ice shape is distributed at the leading edge of the slat airfoil and the lower surface of the main element and the flap airfoil. The droplet collection on the multi-element airfoil surface has significant unsteady characteristics due to the influence of the upstream component wake. Ice accretion on the leading edge slat and ice blocking in the crack near the slat are the main factors leading to the aerodynamic performance degradation, while the ice on the flap surface has a smaller impact for the lift and drag efficiency.