Numerical simulation of one-dimensional heat transfer in composite bodies with phase change

A numerical simulation was developed to investigate the one dimensional heat transfer occurring in a system composed of a layered aircraft blade having an ice deposit on its surface. The finite difference representation of the heat conduction equations was done using the Crank-Nicolson implicit finite difference formulation. The simulation considers uniform or time dependent heat sources, from heaters which can be either point sources or of finite thickness. For the ice water phase change, a numerical method which approximates the latent heat effect by a large heat capacity over a small temperature interval was applied. The simulation describes the temperature profiles within the various layers of the de-icer pad, as well as the movement of the ice water interface. The simulation could also be used to predict the one dimensional temperature profiles in any composite slab having different boundary conditions.