Study and realization through additive manufacturing of an aeronautical leading edge prototype integrating the de-icing function

The increasing spread of the metallic additive manufacturing technology in the aerospace industry to optimize the weight of its components without losing their functions led to the modern application of 3D printed trabecular structures in light and multifunctional elements, determining, thanks to these innovative manufacturing processes and materials, the transition to a deterministic control in terms of mechanical and thermal performances of the material with respect to the classic metal foams. The aim of this thesis work is to continue the development path of an innovative aeronautical leading edge prototype, patented by Politecnico di Torino, which exploits 3D-printed trabecular lattice structures to integrate the de-icing function. The study is conducted through a CFD simulation campaign on the CAD model of this leading edge structure with heated air flowing through itself to understand the flowfield and the heat transfer phenomena established inside, evaluating the different response of various types of 3D-printed trabecular lattice structures. Finally, the intention is to produce, following the theoretical studies, a real prototype of the simulated structure.