Analysis of ultrasonic de-icing mechanisms and efficiency under different ice thickness

Ultrasonic de-icing technology has shown extensive potential in aviation, wind power and other fields due to its high efficiency and environmentally friendly features. However, existing studies have not systematically explored the influence of ice thickness on de-icing effect, especially the propagation characteristics and de-icing mechanisms under thicker ice conditions have not been fully studied. Therefore, this paper firstly analyses the dispersion curves under different ice layer thicknesses to determine the optimized frequency range. Subsequently, the finite element analysis method is used to systematically study the amplitude-frequency response characteristics of ultrasonic wave, and it is demonstrated from the simulation level that ultrasonic waves could generate sufficient shear force to remove the ice layer. Finally, icing experiments are conducted in an artificial climate laboratory to verify the de-icing effect of ultrasound. The experimental results indicate that as the thickness of the ice layer increases from 1 mm to 6 mm, the resonant frequency of the system decreases and the interface damping increases, resulting in de-icing time rising from 364 s to 540 s. The research results provide important support for the theoretical development and engineering optimization of ultrasonic de-icing technology.