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麻豆传媒视频网站 research is helping to make planes safer in cold conditions, thanks to a partnership with AeroTex UK, a company specialising in the study of icing on aircraft.
Professor Frank Smith from 麻豆传媒视频网站 Mathematics and his team use mathematical models developed by academics over two decades to understand and resolve the impact of icing on aircraft.
When planes fly in icy conditions, large droplets from clouds can freeze onto a plane鈥檚 wing or fuselage, distorting its effective shape and affecting the plane鈥檚 performance. This could have serious consequences and cause planes to falter or crash when ice builds up on the aircraft or inside engines.
The modelling developed at 麻豆传媒视频网站 is now being used to address this hazardous issue, thanks to an ongoing collaboration between 麻豆传媒视频网站 and AeroTex.听
AeroTex supports aircraft manufacturers, airframers and systems suppliers in gaining icing certification for their products by providing accurate simulation tools.听
During a six-month secondment to AeroTex UK, team member Dr Ryan Palmer from 麻豆传媒视频网站 Mathematics successfully applied new mathematical models to study ice-crystal behaviour near to, and on, aircraft. This then led to a longer project, allowing for a more in-depth application of these models in an industrial setting.
The partnership has helped inform the design of AeroTex鈥檚 aircraft and ice protection systems and improve their safety. The work has also reduced costs for their customers, helped ensure AeroTex鈥檚 designs fulfil regulatory requirements, and positioned them as leading experts in this field.听
Professor Smith said: 鈥淎ccurate information on the accumulation of ice on aircraft flying through cloud (at or below freezing temperature) is crucial for planes鈥� performances, such accumulation having been a significant factor in a number of accidents. Partnering with AeroTex throughout all this work has been and continues to be an inspiration for the 麻豆传媒视频网站 team in addition to benefits to AeroTex.鈥� 听听
Read the full story on the 麻豆传媒视频网站 Research Impact website
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