Early-Stage Ice Detection Utilizing High-Order Ultrasonic Guided Waves

Regina Rekuvienė*, Vykintas Samaitis, Audrius Jankauskas, Abdolali K. Sadaghiani, Shaghayegh Saeidiharzand, Ali Koşar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Ice detection poses significant challenges in sectors such as renewable energy and aviation due to its adverse effects on aircraft performance and wind energy production. Ice buildup alters the surface characteristics of aircraft wings or wind turbine blades, inducing airflow separation and diminishing the aerodynamic properties of these structures. While various approaches have been proposed to address icing effects, including chemical solutions, pneumatic systems, and heating systems, these solutions are often costly and limited in scope. To enhance the cost-effectiveness of ice protection systems, reliable information about current icing conditions, particularly in the early stages, is crucial. Ultrasonic guided waves offer a promising solution for ice detection, enabling integration into critical structures and providing coverage over larger areas. However, existing techniques primarily focus on detecting thick ice layers, leaving a gap in early-stage detection. This paper proposes an approach based on high-order symmetric modes to detect thin ice formation with thicknesses up to a few hundred microns. The method involves measuring the group velocity of the S1 mode at different temperatures and correlating velocity changes with ice layer formation. Experimental verification of the proposed approach was conducted using a novel group velocity dispersion curve reconstruction method, allowing for the tracking of propagating modes in the structure. Copper samples without and with special superhydrophobic multiscale coatings designed to prevent ice formation were employed for the experiments. The results demonstrated successful detection of ice formation and enabled differentiation between the coated and uncoated cases. Therefore, the proposed approach can be effectively used for early-stage monitoring of ice growth and evaluating the performance of anti-icing coatings, offering promising advancements in ice detection and prevention for critical applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2850
Number of pages15
JournalSensors
Volume24
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Apr 2024

Bibliographical note

Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.

Keywords

  • antifreeze coatings
  • high-order modes
  • ice binding proteins
  • ultrasonic guided waves

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Information Systems
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biochemistry
  • Instrumentation
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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