Study on the dynamics of slip and detachment of thin de-icing fluid films on wing surfaces

Abstract

After ground de-icing operations, a thin film of anti-icing fluid is sprayed onto the aircraft skin to temporarily prevent the aircraft from icing again. The airworthiness requirements for aircraft takeoff have strict specifications for the rheological properties of the de-icing fluid film and its aerodynamic characteristics. This article conducts numerical studies on the non-Newtonian rheological dynamics of the de-icing fluid film under high shear stress, experimentally verifies the non-Newtonian rheological properties of Type II de-icing fluid, constructs an experimental model of non-Newtonian thin film rheological behavior on the wing surface, and numerically reconstructs the behavior of the de-icing fluid thin film on the wing surface under the effect of high wind speed, including shear-thinning, slip, fragmentation, and detachment. It specifically analyzes the influence mechanisms of aircraft takeoff speed and film thickness on the film detachment behavior. The research results show that lateral winds induce instability fluctuations on the film surface, leading to the accumulation and fragmentation of the film. Changes in takeoff speed alter the airflow shear forces, while film thickness affects internal viscosity and surface tension. As takeoff speed increases, film detachment efficiency improves, but the opposite is true for film thickness.