An Experimental Study of Flow Control Techniques on a Multi-Element Airfoil" (2003)
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Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Winter 2003 An Experimental Study of Flow Control Techniques on a Multi- Element Airfoil Ira James Walker Old Dominion University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/mae_etds Part of the Aerospace Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Walker, Ira J.. "An Experimental Study of Flow Control Techniques on a Multi-Element Airfoil" (2003). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Dissertation, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/d9sj-gk56 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/mae_etds/90 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF FLOW CONTROL TECHNIQUES ON A MULTI ELEMENT AIRFOIL by Ira James Walker B.S.G. May 1974 Villanova University M.S. May 1980 Old Dominion University A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AEROSPACE ENGINEERING OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY December 2003 Approved by: Colin P. Britcher (Director) Drew Landm; ember) Ponnampalam Balakumar (Member) Halima .Mi (Member) Oktay Baysal (Member) Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF FLOW-CONTROL TECHNIQUES ON A MULTI-ELEMENT AIRFOIL Ira James Walker Old Dominion University, 2003 Director: Dr. Colin P. Britcher The results of a wind tunnel experiment are reported, which investigated two different flow control techniques that demonstrated the potential of increasing the lift coefficient on a multi-element airfoil. The data also indicated that boundary-layer separation on the trailing-edge flap could be reduced significantly. Results of the investigation revealed that for some test conditions an increased amount of suction occurred on the upper surface of the main element where the flow was attached. One of the techniques that was tested in this investigation involved the use of a pair of piezoelectric devices attached to the model to provide oscillatory motion directly to the flow field of the airfoil. The other technique employed a loudspeaker, which was mounted on the wall of the test section to supply acoustic excitation to the surrounding flow field. During the primary portion of the test, the free stream velocity in the test section was 20 m/s and the model attitude was fixed at 19° angle of attack. The piezoelectric devices were operated at frequencies of 0, 80, 90, 100, and 120, 240, 260 and 320 Hz. The loudspeaker was operated at only two frequencies of 80 and 120 Hz. Velocity profiles were obtained using a TSI® hot-film sensor and anemometer. These velocity profiles were measured on the main element and on the trailing-edge flap. The data showed that increments in mean velocity profile were achieved on the separated Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. trailing-edge flap when the piezoelectric devices were driven at frequencies of 100 and 120 Hz at 19° angle of attack. When the model was tested at 15° angle of attack, the largest increase in lift was achieved when the devices were driven at 320 Hz. The largest increment in lift occurred when the flow field was acoustically excited at 80 Hz. Linear Stability Analysis was employed to predict the vortex passage frequency behind the slat. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. This work is most especially dedicated to my precious wife, Lutricia, whose ever present support, love, and patience throughout the duration of this project helped to make it all possible. I truly owe her an incalculable amount of gratitude for contributing greatly to my development as a person. A special note of thanks and appreciation is also extended to my two daughters, Tiffany and Danielle, for their encouragement. The author would also like to dedicate this work in memory of his parents, Edward and Mary Walker, who instilled in him from an early age an interest in learning new things. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to sincerely thank Dr. Colin P. Britcher of Old Dominion University for his technical guidance and support while he ably served in the capacity of academic advisor. A debt of gratitude is also owed to the other professors who provided assistance in undertaking this research study. Specifically, thanks go to Dr. Drew Landman of Old Dominion University, who was not only the designer of the test article used in this study, but who also provided much help in the development of the LAB VIEW computer software. Additionally, Dr. Ponnampalam Balakumar of NAS A/LaRC was instrumental in the formulation of the algorithms that were used in the linear stability analysis. Both Dr. Oktay Baysal of Old Dominion University and Dr. Halima Ali of Hampton University provided very valuable input without which this document would be less complete. The author wishes to also acknowledge Mr. Thomas Galloway for his very valuable technical assistance with the electronic instrumentation that was used in this experiment. The Fabrication Division of the Aerodynamics Research Equipment Section located at NASA Largely Research Center fabricated the test model components. Finally, the author would be remiss if thanks were not extended to Dr. Carolyn B. Morgan of Hampton University for her unwavering support that helped to facilitate this effort. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION.............................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................................ix LIST OF FIGURES.........................................................................................................x NOMENCLATURE......................................................................................................xiv Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Interest in High-Lift Systems .............................................................1 1.2 Overview of the History of High-Lift Research ................................ 5 1.3 Flow Control Issues Related to High-Lift Aerodynamics ................. 8 1.4 Previous Studies Involving Flow Control ........................................25 1.5 Viscous Linear Stability Theory ...................................................... 42 1.6 Skin Friction Calculations ................................................................53 2. MULTI-ELEMENT AIRFOILS.................................................................... 56 2.1 Aerodynamics of Multi-Element Airfoils ........................................56 2.1.1 The Slat Effect ......................................................................61 2.1.2 The Circulation Effect ..........................................................62 2.1.3 The Dumping Effect .............................................................64 2.1.4 Off-the-Surface Pressure Recovery ......................................65 2.1.5 Fresh-boundary-Layer Effect ............................................... 65 2.2 Previous Studies Involving Multi-Element Airfoils ........................ 66 2.3 Dissertation Objective ......................................................................77 3. EXPERIMENTAL COMPONENTS............................................................. 80 3.1 Hardware Considerations ................................................................. 80 3.1.1 Model Geometry ...................................................................80 3.1.2 Piezoelectric Devices ........................................................... 86 3.1.3 Acoustic Instrumentation ..................................................... 87 3.1.4 Description of ODU Low-Speed Wind Tunnel ....................87 3.1.5 Data Acquisition System ......................................................89 3.1.6 Hot-Film Anenometer .......................................................... 89 3.1.7 Electronic Scanning Pressure Transducers ......................... 90 3.1.8 Three-Axes Traversing Mechanism ..................................... 91 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. vii 3.1.9 Measurement Uncertainty Considerations ............................92 3.2 Software Considerations .................................................................... 97 3.2.1 Lab VIEW Application Programs ..........................................97 3.2.2 TSI Data Acquisition Program .............................................. 98 3.2.3 FORTRAN Application