Propeller-ice contact modeling with peridynamics

The ice contact loads pose a threat to safe operation of propellers. The propeller-ice contact process and the dynamic loads have been investigated numerically. Numerical method based on peridynamics and contact detection method has been introduced. Considering the difference of the mechanical properties of ice and propeller, the propeller is assumed as rigid body and the ice is treated as elastic brittle. To deal with the complicated surface of propeller, a continuous contact detection algorithm has been developed to detect the contact area between propeller body and ice particles. The brittle failure behavior of the ice during propeller-ice contact is simulated. The transient extreme contact loads have been investigated. It is concluded that the method can well capture the ice failure features, such as dynamic cracks and generation of ice pieces, and the calculated contact loads are reliable.