Theoretical analysis and experimental study on ice thickness estimation by love wave sensors

The detection of ice thickness holds paramount importance in ensuring the safety of aircraft flights. In this study, we employed Love wave, a highly promising technique for ice detection and measurement of ice thickness. Initially, we scrutinized the dynamic process of stratified icing under the influence of both the heat transfer and flow fields with software COMSOL Multiphysics and developed an effective model for icing thickness incorporating the parameter of contact angle. Subsequently, leveraging the three-layer medium structure, we calculated the relationship between icing thickness and the amplitude attenuation of Love wave to establish a response model for the ice thickness of Love waves based on the acoustic attenuation effect. Based on this, we developed an 80 MHz Love wave sensor for validation, and the experimental results and theoretical calculations exhibit an error of no more than 10 %. In addition, the sensor can measure ice thickness up to 1.5 mm with a resolution greater than 0.05 mm and a sensitivity of approximately 0.4 dB/0.05 mm. This work presents a more accurate theoretical model for ice thickness detection based on Love waves and thoroughly validates the excellent ice thickness detection capability of the Love wave sensor.