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Innovative Concepts for Non-Thermal Based Anti-Icing/De-Icing of Rotor Blade Leading Edges

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N68335-08-C-0298
Agency Tracking Number: N08A-013-0016
Amount: $69,825.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: N08-T013
Solicitation Number: 2008.A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-07-14
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-02-14
Small Business Information
411 Wolf Ledges, Suite 105
Akron, OH 44311
United States
DUNS: 809253060
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Fred Choy
 Professor
 (330) 972-6847
 fchoy@uakron.edu
Business Contact
 Rudolph Scavuzzo
Title: President
Phone: (330) 666-6196
Email: RSCRUD@aol.com
Research Institution
 UNIV. OF AKRON
 Fred Choy
 
Mechanical Engineering University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325 3903
United States

 (330) 972-6847
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

This proposal aims at the development of a low-power deicing system using the newly developed magnetostrictive alloy as functional materials, namely the Ni-Mn-Ga alloy. Present studies have shown that the Ni-Mn-Ga smart alloy does not require excessive input power to operate while an impulsive strain of over 5% can be generated under a load of over 1 Mpa. When power is applied to the solenoid around the functional material, strain is produced by the Martensitic transformation of the alloy and will exhibit a sudden volumetric expansion resulting in a substantial impulsive force. Finite element models will be generated to determine the necessary impulse force/strain required to de-bond the accreted ice. By installing actuators in series along the rotor blade structure and activated sequentially, surface accreted ice can be de-bonded effectively. As the surface area of leading edge in the rotor blade is relatively small, miniaturized design and fabrication technologies will be applied to fabricate the de-icing devices to be attached to the blade surface. While the proposed deicing system will be jointly developed by the University of Akron and Akron Air Materials, LLC., the prototype will be tested in the icing wind tunnel at Goodrich Deicing Division.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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