Oxford Thermofluids Institute

Icing Group

The Icing Group at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute, University of Oxford specialises in experimental investigation and numerical modelling of ice crystal icing.

People

Academic staff

Professor David Gillespie [email] [www] [in]
Professor Matthew McGilvray [email] [www] [in]

Researchers

Dr Natan Zawadzki [email] [www] [in]
Dr Mohammad Shahsavari [email] [www] [in]

Research students

Thomas Cross (DPhil) [email] [www] [in]
Investigating accretion and shedding of ice
Matt Lenahan (DPhil) [email] [www] [in]
Writing software and models for particle transport
Alfie Gilmour (DPhil) [email] [in]
Shiva Sudhan (MRes) [email] [in]
Developing computational icing codes and particle heat transfer analysis methods

Project engineers

James Farmborough [email] [in]
Designing the new Icing at Altitude Wind Tunnel

Former members

Liam Parker [in]
Dr Xin Yang
Dr Jonathan Connolly [in]
Dr Alexander Bucknell [in]

Publications

2025

T. J. S. Cross, N. Zawadzki, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “Ice Crystal Shed Prediction in Turbomachinery Using Accretion Laser Scans and Subsurface Thermal Data,” AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2025. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, July 16, 2025. doi: 10.2514/6.2025-3856.
Awarded Best Student Paper at AIAA AVIATION Forum 2025
L. Parker, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “Modelling Unsteady Ice Accretion and Water Runback in Aero Engines,” AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2025. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, July 16, 2025. doi: 10.2514/6.2025-3857.

2024

T. J. S. Cross, N. Zawadzki, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “A Finite Element-Based Fracture Model for the Prediction of Shedding in Ice Crystal Icing,” AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2024. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, July 27, 2024. doi: 10.2514/6.2024-3927.
Awarded Best Student Paper at AIAA AVIATION Forum 2024
N. Zawadzki, J. Connolly, X. Yang, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “Ice Crystal Transport and Accretion in a Rotating Test Environment,” AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2024. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, July 27, 2024. doi: 10.2514/6.2024-3846.
N. Zawadzki, T. J. S. Cross, L. Parker, J. Farmborough, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “Wall Heat Transfer Measurements in a Turbomachinery Environment Subject to Ice Crystal Icing,” AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2024. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, July 27, 2024. doi: 10.2514/6.2024-3848.
L. Parker, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, and G. Jones, “Numerical Simulations of Ice Particle Transport at Representative Turbofan Compressor Conditions,” Volume 12B: Turbomachinery — Axial Flow Turbine Aerodynamics; Deposition, Erosion, Fouling, and Icing. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, June 24, 2024. doi: 10.1115/gt2024-121461.

2023

M. F. Eberhart, S. Loehle, F. Grigat, J. Connolly, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “3D measurement of ice crystal accretion using a plenoptic camera,” AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Jan. 19, 2023. doi: 10.2514/6.2023-0806.

2022

J. Connolly, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “Optical measurement of ice crystal icing on a NACA 0018 airfoil,” AIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, June 20, 2022. doi: 10.2514/6.2022-3699.
X. Yang, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “Modelling the particle trajectory and melting behaviour of non-spherical ice crystal particles,” International Journal of Multiphase Flow, vol. 148, p. 103949, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2021.103949.

2021

A. Bucknell, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, G. Jones, and B. Collier, “A thermodynamic model for ice crystal accretion in aircraft engines: EMM-C,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 174, p. 121270, Aug. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.121270.
X. Yang, M. McGilvray, and D. R. H. Gillespie, “Numerical Modeling and Parametric Study of the Melting Behavior of Ice Crystal Particles,” AIAA Journal, vol. 59, no. 11, pp. 4660–4668, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.2514/1.j060351.

2020 and earlier

J. Connolly, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, G. Jones, and B. Collier, “Digital Image Projection for 3D Ice Crystal Icing Accretion Measurements,” AIAA AVIATION 2020 FORUM. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, June 08, 2020. doi: 10.2514/6.2020-2812.
J. Connolly, M. Choi, X. Yang, L. Doherty, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, “Ice crystal accretion in a combined linear cascade and swan neck duct,” AIAA AVIATION 2020 FORUM. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, June 08, 2020. doi: 10.2514/6.2020-2828.
A. Bucknell, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, G. Jones, A. Reed, and B. Collier, “Experimental Studies of Ice Crystal Accretion on Axisymmetric Bodies at Aeroengine Conditions,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 836–850, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.2514/1.b37635.
A. Bucknell, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, X. Yang, G. Jones, and B. Collier, “ICICLE: A Model for Glaciated & Mixed Phase Icing for Application to Aircraft Engines,” SAE Technical Paper Series, vol. 1. SAE International, June 10, 2019. doi: 10.4271/2019-01-1969.
J. Connolly, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, A. Bucknell, L. Parker, G. Jones, “Two-Way Flow Coupling in Ice Crystal Icing Simulation,” SAE Technical Paper Series, vol. 1. SAE International, June 10, 2019. doi: 10.4271/2019-01-1966.
A. Bucknell, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, L. Parker, P. Forsyth, H. S. Ifti, G. Jones, “Experimental Study and Analysis of Ice Crystal Accretion on a Gas Turbine Compressor Stator Vane,” SAE Technical Paper Series, vol. 1. SAE International, June 10, 2019. doi: 10.4271/2019-01-1927.
A. Bucknell, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, G. Jones, and B. Collier, “A Three-Layer Thermodynamic Model for Ice Crystal Accretion on Warm Surfaces: EMM-C,” SAE Technical Paper Series, vol. 1. SAE International, June 10, 2019. doi: 10.4271/2019-01-1963.
A. Bucknell, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, G. Jones, A. Reed, and D. R. Buttsworth, “Heat Transfer in the Core Compressor Under Ice Crystal Icing Conditions,” Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, vol. 140, no. 7, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.1115/1.4038460.
A. Bucknell, M. McGilvray, D. R. H. Gillespie, G. Jones, A. Reed, and B. Collier, “Experimental Studies of Ice Crystal Accretion on an Axisymmetric Body at Engine-Realistic Conditions,” 2018 Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, June 24, 2018. doi: 10.2514/6.2018-4223.
Awarded Student Paper Award at AIAA AVIATION Forum 2018

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