Icing Condition Predictions Using FBGS.

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Materials Science
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Aircraft icing poses a significant and growing hazard to aviation safety.
• Detecting both standard icing and Supercooled Large Droplet (SLD) conditions is crucial for future safety improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors (FBGSs) as a flight icing detection system.
• To assess the capability of FBGSs in predicting icing cloud conditions, including SLD.

Main Methods:

• FBGSs were integrated onto an airfoil's upper and lower surfaces within an Icing Wind Tunnel (IWT).
• Temperature measurements were taken along the airfoil chord under various icing conditions, including SLD.
• FBGS measurements were correlated with a Messinger heat and mass balance model.

Main Results:

• FBGSs demonstrated a good correlation between theoretical calculations and experimental IWT test results.
• The sensors accurately detected the onset and cessation of ice accretion.
• FBGS measurements enabled precise prediction of Liquid Water Content (LWC) and Ice Accretion Rate (IAR).

Conclusions:

• FBGSs are a precise and rapid technology for detecting aircraft icing conditions.
• The study validates FBGSs as a reliable tool for monitoring LWC and IAR in flight.
• FBGS technology offers a promising solution for mitigating icing hazards in aviation.