Effect of Geometric Fidelity on the Aerodynamics of a Swept Wing with Scalloped Ice Accretion

The effect of geometric fidelity on the aerodynamics of a swept wing with a “scallop” ice shape was studied. Three geometric fidelity versions of the ice shape were studied. The High Fidelity ice shape maintained all of the highly 3D features of the scallop shape. The 3D Smooth ice shape was smoothly lofted over the High Fidelity shape in order to eliminate all of the local 3D feature. The third ice shape was the 3D Smooth ice shape with roughness grit attached to the surface. The two 3D Smooth versions of the ice shape exhibited a flowfield characterized by a leading edge separation bubble that rolled into a spanwise running vortex. The surface pressure data showed classic leading edge separation bubbles that are observed on 2D airfoils with leading edge horn ice shapes. The High Fidelity ice shape exhibited a flowfield characterized by streamwise vortices that formed downstream of the ice shape. The streamwise vortices observed downstream of the High Fidelity ice shape appeared to reduce the size of the separation suction peak observed downstream of the 3D Smooth ice shapes. This reduced the lift for the High Fidelity ice shape, when compared to the 3D Smooth ice shapes. However, these streamwise vortices may have allowed the flow to remain attached longer and slightly increased the stall angle of attack, even though the maximum lift was lower.