Experimental assessment on effect of melting ratio on ice particle adhesion behavior

Ice crystal icing seriously affects the normal operation of aero-engines, posing a threat to flight safety. The adhesive properties of partially melted ice particles constitute the core factor influencing this problem. Existing research has yet to clarify their adhesion mechanism, and the influence law of liquid water on adhesion properties remains unclear. To address this, this study designed and constructed an experimental setup for the impact and adhesion of partially melted ice particles. Adhesion experiments were conducted under varying impact velocities, particle diameters, and melt ratio levels. By combining theoretical analysis and experimental observations, the formation mechanism of residual ice cones was revealed, and their three-dimensional morphology was subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study further clarified the influence mechanism of melt ratio on adhesion properties: lower melt ratios promote ice cone formation, while excessively high melt ratios inhibit it. The ice cone formation probability exhibits an initial increase followed by a decrease as the melt ratio rises. Based on the above findings, an empirical model was developed to fit the ice cone formation probability, establishing a correlation between the truncation constant and the dimensionless water film thickness. This study provides insights into the adhesion mechanism of partially melted ice particles and offers theoretical foundations and data support for developing adhesion models relevant to aviation engine anti-icing systems.