Study on the simulation and analysis method of atmospheric ice accumulation prediction for typical structures of polar research vessels

Ice accumulation on polar research vessels poses a significant threat to safe navigation. This study aims to predict ice accumulation thickness and characteristics on polar research vessels subjected to atmospheric influences, and proposes a methodology for predicting ice thickness. An experimental-numerical investigation framework is established to study the atmospheric icing characteristics of complex polar research vessel structures. The icing wind tunnel tests are conducted on a scaled model, and numerical simulations based on the coupled CFD and icing prediction approach are performed for comparison and analysis. The effects of environmental factors, including temperature, incoming velocity, and inflow direction, on ice accumulation characteristics of typical vessel structures are investigated. Comparison with experimental results reveals an average error of 16.34% for large droplets and 17.72% for small droplets, confirming the validity of the method for the scaled model under the tested conditions. This approach provides valuable insights for designing anti-deicing systems on polar research vessels and evaluating the efficiency of de-icing systems in the future.