Open Access

ARTICLE

Numerical Study on the Icing Characteristics of Flat Plates and Its Influencing Factors

Jin Zhu^1,2,*, Yanxin Xu¹

1 Department of Bridge Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
2 State Key Laboratory of Bridge Intelligent and Green Construction, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 611756, China

* Corresponding Author: Jin Zhu. Email:

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2025, 144(3), 2849-2872. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2025.070287

Received 12 July 2025; Accepted 29 August 2025; Issue published 30 September 2025

Abstract

Ice accretion on structures such as aircraft wings and wind turbine blades poses serious risks to aerodynamic performance and operational safety, particularly in cold and humid environments. This study conducts numerical simulations of ice formation on thin flat plates using CFD and FENSAP-ICE, exploring how air temperature, wind velocity, and angle of attack (AOA) affect icing behavior and aerodynamic characteristics. Results indicate that ice thickness increases linearly over time. Rime ice forms at low temperatures due to immediate droplet freezing, whereas glaze ice develops at higher temperatures when a water film forms and subsequently refreezes into protruding ice horns; under identical conditions, rime ice consistently produces thicker ice layers than glaze ice. Increasing wind speed substantially enhances ice growth and coverage, while speeds as low as 1 m/s result in minimal accretion. Changes in AOA shift the icing region toward the pressure side, and AOAs of equal magnitude but opposite sign yield symmetrical ice accretion patterns and identical maximum thickness values. After icing, the plate’s leading edge becomes smoother, slightly reducing drag while increasing lift and moment coefficients. These findings highlight the dominant roles of temperature, wind speed, and AOA in determining ice morphology, extent, and aerodynamic impact, providing valuable insights for predicting icing effects and developing mitigation strategies for structures operating in icing-prone regions.

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Keywords

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