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Propeller ice accretion effects on tandem propeller aerodynamics in eVTOL aircraft mode.

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Title: Propeller ice accretion effects on tandem propeller aerodynamics in eVTOL aircraft mode.
Authors: Ishaque, Ghulam1 (AUTHOR), Li, Linhao1 (AUTHOR), Wang, Junli1 (AUTHOR), Wu, Jian1,2 (AUTHOR) jian.wu@hit.edu.cn
Source: Cold Regions Science & Technology. Jul2026, Vol. 248, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Icing (Meteorology), Computational aerodynamics, Drag (Aerodynamics), Aerodynamic load, Rotorcraft
Abstract: Propeller-propeller interaction is one of the main sources of aerodynamic losses in electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. While previous studies have extensively investigated these interactions under clean conditions, the impact of ice accretion on wake-induced coupling between tandem propellers remains insufficiently understood. Under icy conditions, propeller performance degrades and wake structures become highly distorted, potentially amplifying their impact on downstream components. In this study, propeller interaction (defined as the aerodynamic coupling between upstream and downstream propellers through their wake and induced velocity fields) is investigated in airplane mode under different tandem configurations. Icing simulations are initially performed on a singular blade using FENSAP-ICE, whose methodology has been validated in our previous work, and the resulting ice geometries are later restructured to perform aerodynamic interaction analysis in ANSYS CFX. Findings show that propeller ice accretion, reduces thrust force, increases power demand and alters the boundary layer flow momentum. Thereby, enhancing the wake non-uniformity, intensifies turbulence and the changes local inflow conditions at rear propeller. Despite these changes, improved pressure recovery and reduced trailing edge separations are observed on the rear propeller. At severe icing conditions and maximum overlapping conditions, about 19% increase in thrust coefficients of downstream propeller observed than the clean wake case. The impacts of upstream propeller ice accretion decrease with the increase of the advance ratio and vertical offset distance between the propellers. The results of this work provide new insights into icing-induced propeller-propeller interaction mechanisms relevant to eVTOL aircraft operating in adverse atmospheric conditions. • Numerical study of eVTOL propeller ice accretion and performance losses. • Iced propellers generate broader, more turbulent wakes impacting downstream components. • Ice accretion strongly alters downstream propeller aerodynamics via wake interaction. • Interaction strength varies markedly with vertical offset between propellers. • Findings aid eVTOL design under icing via CFD based insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Cold Regions Science & Technology is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 193753706
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: Propeller ice accretion effects on tandem propeller aerodynamics in eVTOL aircraft mode.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ishaque%2C+Ghulam%22">Ishaque, Ghulam</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Linhao%22">Li, Linhao</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Junli%22">Wang, Junli</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Jian%22">Wu, Jian</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jian.wu@hit.edu.cn</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Cold+Regions+Science+%26+Technology%22">Cold Regions Science & Technology</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 248, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Icing+%28Meteorology%29%22">Icing (Meteorology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computational+aerodynamics%22">Computational aerodynamics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drag+%28Aerodynamics%29%22">Drag (Aerodynamics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aerodynamic+load%22">Aerodynamic load</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rotorcraft%22">Rotorcraft</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Propeller-propeller interaction is one of the main sources of aerodynamic losses in electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. While previous studies have extensively investigated these interactions under clean conditions, the impact of ice accretion on wake-induced coupling between tandem propellers remains insufficiently understood. Under icy conditions, propeller performance degrades and wake structures become highly distorted, potentially amplifying their impact on downstream components. In this study, propeller interaction (defined as the aerodynamic coupling between upstream and downstream propellers through their wake and induced velocity fields) is investigated in airplane mode under different tandem configurations. Icing simulations are initially performed on a singular blade using FENSAP-ICE, whose methodology has been validated in our previous work, and the resulting ice geometries are later restructured to perform aerodynamic interaction analysis in ANSYS CFX. Findings show that propeller ice accretion, reduces thrust force, increases power demand and alters the boundary layer flow momentum. Thereby, enhancing the wake non-uniformity, intensifies turbulence and the changes local inflow conditions at rear propeller. Despite these changes, improved pressure recovery and reduced trailing edge separations are observed on the rear propeller. At severe icing conditions and maximum overlapping conditions, about 19% increase in thrust coefficients of downstream propeller observed than the clean wake case. The impacts of upstream propeller ice accretion decrease with the increase of the advance ratio and vertical offset distance between the propellers. The results of this work provide new insights into icing-induced propeller-propeller interaction mechanisms relevant to eVTOL aircraft operating in adverse atmospheric conditions. • Numerical study of eVTOL propeller ice accretion and performance losses. • Iced propellers generate broader, more turbulent wakes impacting downstream components. • Ice accretion strongly alters downstream propeller aerodynamics via wake interaction. • Interaction strength varies markedly with vertical offset between propellers. • Findings aid eVTOL design under icing via CFD based insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Cold Regions Science & Technology is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104949
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Icing (Meteorology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computational aerodynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Drag (Aerodynamics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aerodynamic load
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rotorcraft
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Propeller ice accretion effects on tandem propeller aerodynamics in eVTOL aircraft mode.
        Type: main
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    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ishaque, Ghulam
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            NameFull: Li, Linhao
      – PersonEntity:
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            NameFull: Wang, Junli
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            NameFull: Wu, Jian
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0165232X
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              Value: 248
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            – TitleFull: Cold Regions Science & Technology
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