Iced rotor blade in the DLR rotor icing test facility
Iced rotor blade in the DLR rotor icing test facility
When supercooled water droplets hit the rotating rotor blades, they freeze abruptly. Depending on the temperature, the liquid water content (LWC) in the air and the median volume diameter (MVD)in the spray, a steadily growing layer of ice forms relatively quickly, primarily on the leading edge of the blade. Depending on the temperature inside the cooling chamber, clear or rough ice or a mixture of the two is formed. Although this form of blade icing is beautiful to look at, it poses a danger to the aircraft if it is not recognized in time and appropriate countermeasures are not taken quickly.
