  Within these studies, atomic scale molecular dynamics simulations have been
performed to analyze the behavior of water droplets and ice clusters on
hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces subjected to high-frequency vibrations.
The methodology applied herewith aimed at understanding the phenomena governing
the anti-icing and de-icing process enabled by Surface Acoustic Waves (SAWs).
The complex wave propagation was simplified by in-plane and out-of-plane
substrate vibrations, which are relevant to individual longitudinal and
transverse components of SAWs. Since the efficiency of such an active system
depends on the energy transfer from the vibrating substrate to water or ice,
the agents influencing such transfer as well as the accompanied phenomena were
studied in detail. Apart from the polarization of the substrate vibrations
(in-plane/out-of-plane), the amplitude and frequency of these vibrations were
analyzed through atomic scale modeling. Further, the surface wettability effect
was introduced as a critical factor within the simulation of water or ice
sitting on the vibrating substrate. The results of these studies allow
identifying the different phenomena responsible for water and ice removal from
vibrating surfaces depending on the wave amplitude and frequency. The
importance of substrate wetting for the ant-icing and de-icing has also been
analyzed and discussed concerning the future design and optimization of
SAW-based systems.
