Discrete Surface Evolution and Mesh Deformation for Aircraft Icing Applications

Thompson, D., Tong, X., Arnoldus, Q.H., Collins, E. M., McLaurin, D., & Luke, E. (2013). Discrete Surface Evolution and Mesh Deformation for Aircraft Icing Applications. Proceedings of the AIAA 5th Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference. San Diego, CA. DOI:10.2514/6.2013-2544.

Robust, automated mesh generation for problems with deforming geometries, such as ice accreting on aerodynamic surfaces, remains a challenging problem. Here we describe a technique to deform a discrete surface as it evolves due to the accretion of ice. The surface evolution algorithm is based on a smoothed, face-offseting approach. We also describe a fast algebraic technique to propagate the computed surface deformations into the surrounding volume mesh while maintaining geometric mesh quality. Preliminary results presented here demonstrate the efficacy of the approach for a sphere with a prescribed accretion rate, a rime ice accretion, and a more complex glaze ice accretion.