AeroTex are leading the consortium, managing the overall project and interaction with FFG.

AeroTex are leading the Numerical Simulation work package. Our simulation tools are already used within industry. The tools will be applied and improved during the PRECISE project in order to predict the ice accretion and shedding from the propellers as well as helping to develop scaling rules which can be applied in future. We have a strong focus on industrial application of the numerical tools. AeroTex will also be responsible for the overall management of the IWT tests to be performed at RTA. Our considerable experience in planning, running and reporting IWT tests will be brought to bear to ensure maximum benefit from the IWT tests is achieved. Workshops with NASA will be organised to compare results between the facilities.

AIIS has established a strong reputation as a leader in experimental icing measurements, including advanced documentation of ice accretions (3D scanning) and ice accretion processes (4D scanning and high-speed imaging). They own and manage a unique database of scanned ice shapes from a wide range of test campaigns.

Their capabilities further include dedicated measurement and documentation methodologies for propeller icing tests, 3D trajectory reconstruction of shedding ice particles, and kinetic energy measurements using specialized ice capture systems. In addition, AIIS provides detailed analysis of ice geometries (e.g., thickness, volume, surface roughness) based on high-resolution 3D scans.

Beyond in-icing measurements, AIIS develops and manufactures artificial ice shapes for aerodynamic investigations under dry (non-icing) conditions, enabling controlled and repeatable performance assessments.

FH Joanneum have significant experience in numerical simulation, including the simulation of rotating components, and have access to a high-performance computer cluster and state-of-the-art simulation tools. Within PRECISE, they contribute their expertise in flow simulation, complementing AeroTex’s tools.

As the university partner, FH JOANNEUM also brings icing physics knowledge and provides master’s and bachelor’s students the opportunity to work on the project, helping train the next generation of engineers. They further use their climate chamber for icing testing in combination with the AIIS spray rig to support the development of optical methods for ice documentation.

RTA is an internationally active independent research and testing institute for rail and road vehicles, aircraft and technical equipment exposed to extreme climatic conditions. As a world-wide recognised centre of expertise for climatic tests, RTA operates two modern climatic wind tunnels (CWT) in Vienna with the aim of optimising thermal comfort in mass transport vehicles and improving the availability and safety of systems in industrially sensitive areas. In 2013 the facility was expanded to include an icing rig for cloud simulation according to CS-25/14 CFR Part 25 Appendix C and O. RTA also operate their own Propeller test benches (PropRig and the new AGIROS Rig for heavy test specimens up to 450 kg and up to 3m diameter) with different specific methods for propeller tests. These test benches will be used in the project for developing new and improved scaling methods.

Whilst NASA are not a formal partner in the project, they are heavily involved in the planning and design of the research work to be performed and results will be shared mutually between NASA and the Austrian partners. RTA and ATX have been engaged in conversations regarding joint research with NASA since September 2022, and NASA have indicated that the aims of the PRECISE project align very well with their own internal research targets. A Space Act Agreement was signed in November 2024, in which the details of the cooperative work on propeller icing are set up. NASA have unrivalled knowledge in the area of aircraft icing, and the knowledge transfer within this project will improve the Austrian icing community capabilities.