A mathematical multi-zone ice accretion model used in the numerical simulation
of icing on airfoil surface based on three water states, namely, continuous film,
rivulets and beads is studied in this paper. An improved multi-zone roughness model
is proposed. According to the flow state of liquid water and film flow, rivulets flow
governing equations are established to calculate film mass distribution, film velocity,
rivulet wetness factor and rivulet mass distribution. Force equilibrium equations of
droplet are used to establish the critical conditions of water film broken into rivulets
and rivulets broken into beads. The temperature conduction inside the water layer and
ice layer is considered. Using the proposed model ice accretion on a NACA0012 airfoil
profile with a $4^◦$ angle of attack under different icing conditions is simulated. Different
ice shapes like glaze ice, mixed ice and rime ice are obtained, and the results agree well
with icing wind tunnel experiment data. It can be seen that, water films are formed on
the surface, and heights of the films vary with icing time and locations. This results in
spatially-temporally varying surface roughness and heat transfer process, ultimately
affects the ice prediction. Model simulations indicate that the process of water film
formation and evolution cannot be ignored, especially under glaze ice condition.