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Abstract

A technique is presented for assessing the cruise performance of an aircraft employing a hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) system. Two-dimensional HLFC designs based on N-factor control of chamber pressures are extrapolated to a complete aircraft, leading to a full analysis of the potential drag reduction as well as the system power and weight penalties. These can remove over 30% of the aerodynamic drag benefit delivered by laminar flow. Simple trapeziumshaped suction distributions reduce the benefit still further, but the use of non-local stability methods would suggest a reduction of nearly 25% in suction requirements, increasing the net drag benefit by 10%. Modifications to the wing geometry indicate that changes favourable to laminar flow nevertheless introduce unacceptably large wave drag penalties. The most promising direction for future research appears to be extending the extent of the suction control system. Extrapolating the predicted HLFC system performance to the entire wing upper surface, horizontal tail plane and fin would suggest a potential 6½ - 7% reduction of total aircraft drag for the A310 at maximum L/D.

Publication Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Engineering

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