Electromechanical Resonant Ice Protection Systems: Energetic and Power Considerations

This paper focuses on resonant ice protection systems and proposes key performance indicators to analyze the performances of such systems with respect to levels of energy, force, and power required for de-icing. The principle of these systems is to apply vibrations or ultrasonic waves onto the structure that create high-level stresses greater than those required to crack and delaminate to remove the ice accumulated on the structure. The computation of the indicators requires two values: the ice adhesion strength and the critical strain energy release rate. Computations are performed assuming three stages of a de-icing mechanism: first, an initiation of cohesive fractures by tensile stress at the top surface of the ice layer; second, a propagation of cohesive fractures within the ice; and, third, a propagation of adhesive fractures at the ice/substrate interface starting from the base of the cohesive fractures previously created. The proposed key performance indicators provide guidance on the use of flexural and extensional modes in resonant ice protection systems and on the frequency range to favor when looking at fractures initiation and propagation. Calculations based on the key performance indicators show a potential power reduction by 10 with resonant electromechanical de-icing systems compared to electrothermal systems.