Numerical Investigation on Intermittent Maximum Ice Accretion and Aerodynamic Performances of RG-15 Aerofoil at Low Reynolds Number

Ice accretion is inevitable on fix-wing UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) when they are applied to surveillance and mapping over colder climates and arctic regions. Subsequent aerodynamic profile changes have caused the current interest in the better prediction of the effect of icing shapes/sizes/distribution patterns on the aerodynamic performances of an aircraft. This study employs a numerical model which investigates the RG-15 aerofoil’s response to various icing scenarios at a Reynolds number of Re=2×105. Under icing conditions, compared to a clean aerofoil, a reduction in the lift coefficient and an increase in the drag coefficient are observed. Lower temperatures and reduced liquid water content lead to a decrease in the maximum thickness of ice accretion on the RG-15 aerofoil. Particularly noteworthy is the 10.85% reduction in the lift coefficient at a 10° angle of attack, which is in the icing condition at −10 °C with a mean volume diameter of 15 μm. Power consumption increases in the range of 0.46% to 26.5% under various icing conditions, showing synchronization with the rise in drag coefficient. This study underscores the need for future research to investigate various cloud conditions comprehensively and deeply in the context of aerofoil icing.