Grant: Alliance Grants

This project aims to establish two world-unique experimental facilities to advance knowledge on in-flight icing issues, develop highly sophisticated ice protection systems to support future air mobility, and advance predictive numerical methods. The first installation involves a full-scale tail rotor placed in a cold chamber capable of simulating hovering flight in icy conditions. Fully instrumented to study rotor performance and operate de-icing systems, the test rig will generate experimental data and serve in the development of a novel ice protection technology. The second installation consists of an aircraft engine fan set up in an icing wind tunnel to investigate critical in-flight icing scenarios. This setup will produce experimental data and support the development of predictive models for ice accumulation and shedding. This project will foster the next generation of scientists in this cutting-edge field by enabling the graduation of two master's and doctoral students (4 in total), as well as the training of a postdoctoral researcher. For Bell Textron Canada, this setup will be crucial for developing low-energy consumption ice protection systems for its future lightweight rotorcraft. For Pratt & Whitney, the experimental data will enhance understanding of mechanical loads caused by ice and improve numerical simulation capabilities. This will directly support the future development of lighter, high-efficiency aircraft engines.