Natural Laminar Flow And Laminar Flow Control

Research on laminar flow and its transition to turbulent flow has been an important part of fluid dynamics research during the last sixty years. Since transition impacts, in some way, every aspect of aircraft performance, this emphasis is not only understandable but should continue well into the future. The delay of transition through the use of a favorable pressure gradient by proper body shaping (natural laminar flow) or the use of a small amount of suction (laminar flow control) was recognized even in the early 1930s and rapidly became the foundation of much of the laminar flow research in the U.S. and abroad. As one would expect, there have been many approaches, both theoretical and experimental, employed to achieve the substantial progress made to date. Boundary layer stability theories have been formu lated and calibrated by a good deal of wind tunnel and flight experiments. New laminar now airfoils and wings have been designed and many have been employed in aircraft designs. While the early research was, of necessity, concerned with the design of subsonic aircraft interest has steadily moved to higher speeds including those appropriate to planetary entry. Clearly, there have been substantial advances in our understanding of transition physics and in the development and application of transition prediction methodolo gies to the design of aircraft.

Laminar-flow control is an area of aeronautical research that has a long history at NASA's Langley Research Center, Dryden Flight Research Center, their predecessor organizations, and elsewhere. In this monograph, Albert L. Braslow, who spent much of his career at Langley working with this research, presents a history of that portion of laminar-flow technology known as active laminar-flow control, which employs suction of a small quantity of air through airplane surfaces. This important technique offers the potential for significant reduction in drag and, thereby, for large increases in range or reductions in fuel usage for aircraft. For transport aircraft, the reductions in fuel consumed as a result of laminar-flow control may equal 30 percent of present consumption. Given such potential, it is obvious that active laminar-flow control with suction is an important technology. In this study, the author covers the early history of the subject and brings the story all the way to the mid-1990s with an emphasis on flight research, much of which occurred at Dryden.

Boundary Layer and Flow Control: Its Principles and Application, Volume 2 focuses on the layer of fluid in the immediate area of a bounding surface where the effects of viscosity are substantial. This book is organized into two main topics—boundary layer control for low drag, and shock-induced separation and its prevention by design and boundary layer control. It specifically discusses the nature of transition, effect of two-dimensional and isolated roughness on laminar flow, and progress in the design of low drag aerofoils. The onset of separation effects for aerofoils and wings, shock-induced separation for laminar boundary layers, and shock-induced separation for laminar boundary layers are also deliberated. This volume is recommended to physicists and specialists interested in boundary layer and flow control.

The feasibility and impact of implementing a laminar flow control system on a supersonic transport configuration were investigated. A hybrid laminar flow control scheme consisting of suction controlled and natural laminar flow was developed for a double-delta type wing planform. The required suction flow rates were determined from boundary layer stability analyses using representative wing pressure distributions. A preliminary design of structural modifications needed to accommodate suction through a perforated titanium skin was carried out together with the ducting and systems needed to collect, compress and discharge the suction air. The benefits of reduced aerodynamic drag were weighed against the weight, volume and power requirement penalties of suction system installation in a mission performance and sizing program to assess the net benefits. The study showed a feasibility of achieving significant laminarization of the wing surface by use of a hybrid scheme, leading to an 8.2 percent reduction in the cruise drag. This resulted in an 8.5 percent reduction in the maximum takeoff weight and a 12 percent reduction in the fuel burn after the inclusion of the LFC system installation penalties. Several research needs were identified for a resolution of aerodynamics, structural and systems issues before these potential benefits could be realized in a practical system. Parikh, P. G. and Nagel, A. L. Unspecified Center AERODYNAMIC DRAG; BOUNDARY LAYER CONTROL; BOUNDARY LAYER STABILITY; LAMINAR BOUNDARY LAYER; PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION; SUPERSONIC TRANSPORTS; WING PLANFORMS; WINGS; AERODYNAMICS; DRAG REDUCTION; FLOW VELOCITY; LAMINAR FLOW; SUCTION; TAKEOFF; TITANIUM...