Author(s)

O. Gohardani & D. W. Hammond

Abstract

In aircraft icing applications the interaction of Super-Cooled Liquid Droplets (SLD) with the forward facing surfaces of an aircraft is of outmost importance, as it influences the consequent icing that ensues on the structure. In this study, empirical results are shown that characterize different droplet splashing scenarios onto polymeric matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes. Results are presented for droplet interaction upon advanced pristine and eroded aerospace materials based on a numerical scheme, that identifies different splashing features into distinct categories. The purpose of utilizing the dynamic wetting analysis scheme is to numerically represent the type of splashing events that are evident on the experimental photographs. Images are presented for splashing features on different surfaces and their similarities and differences are discussed based on the analysis. Hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of the different specimen surfaces are further examined based on both static and dynamic contact angle measurements and a correlation between the two modes of wetting is presented for the aforementioned materials. Keywords: dynamic wettability, contact angle, droplet interaction, carbon nanotubes, aeronautics. 1 Introduction The potential usage of advanced materials such as polymeric matrix composites and carbon nanotubes have widely been recognized due to the number of possible applications where these materials may present desired characteristics. In aerospace applications, composite materials are widely being considered because of their higher stiffness and strength [1]. The present study investigates the

Keywords

dynamic wettability, contact angle, droplet interaction, carbon nanotubes, aeronautics.