Abstract
The NASA’s response to the oil shortage and price increases of the 70’s was the creation of the Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) Program. Its objective was to provide aerodynamic and controls technology that would enable the design of commercial transports with substantially better fuel efficiency than those in service at the time. This program had a number of facets, most of which were centered on supercritical airfoil/wing and winglet technology, and included both industry and NASA in-house research components. This paper concerns one of the NASA in-house activities, the Langley Laminar Flow Control (LFC) Project, which was carried out in the Langley 8-foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel (8-ft TPT). The idea for such an undertaking came from Dr. Werner Pfenninger in 1975 and stemmed, primarily, from a desire to know more about the compatability of a high performance supercritical wing with laminar flow control. The possible adverse effect of a large supersonic zone and its associated wave structure on the stability of a suction controlled boundary layer was a particular concern.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Abbreviations
- ACEE:
-
NASA’ Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program
- ARC:
-
NASA Ames Research Center
- ATM:
-
atmospheric pressure, 14.7 psi
- CF:
-
crossflow
- HLFC:
-
hybrid laminar flow control
- Hz:
-
Hertz
- LE:
-
leading edge
- LFC:
-
laminar flow control
- LRC:
-
NASA Langley Research Center
- LTPT:
-
NASA Langley Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel
- RSL:
-
reference suction level ( = CQ/CQref)
- TE:
-
trailing edge
- TS:
-
Tollmien-Schlichting
- 8-ft TPT:
-
NASA Langley 8-ft Transonic Pressure Tunnel
- 12-ft PT:
-
NASA Ames 12-ft Pressure Tunnel
References
Bobbitt, P. J.; Waggoner, E. G.; Harvey, W. D.; and Dagenhart, J. It.: A Faster “Transition” to Laminar Flow. SAE 851855, Aerospace Technology Conference and Exposition, Anaheim, CA, October 1988.
Lachmann, G. V. ed.: Boundary Layer and Flow Control, Volume 2. Pergamon Press, 1961.
Wagner, R.; Maddalon, D. V.; Bartlett, D. W.; Collier, F. S., Jr.; and Braslow, A. L.: Laminar Flow Flight Experiments — A Review. Natural Laminar Flow and Laminar Flow Control, M. Y. Hussaini and R. W. Barnwell (editors ), Springer-Verlag, 1991.
Pfenninger, Werner: Laminar Flow Control Laminarization. Special Course on Concepts for Drag Reduction, AGARD-R-654, June 1977, pp. 3–1 to 3–75.
Pfenninger, W.; and Groth, E.: Low Drag Boundary Layer Suction Experiments in Flight on a Wing Glove of an F-94A Airplane with Suction through a Large Number of Fine Slots. Boundary Layer and Flow Control, Volume 2, G. V. Lachman, ed., Pergamon Press, 1961, pp. 981–999.
Fowell, L. R.; and Antonatos, P. P.: Laminar Flow Control Flight Test Results, Some Results from the X-21A Program. Recent Developments in Boundary Layer Research, Part IV, May 1965. AGARDograph 97, pp. 1–76.
Lumley, J. L.: Passage of a Turbulent Stream through Honeycomb of Large Length-to-Diameter Ratio. Trans. ASME, Ser. D: J. Basic Eng., Vol. 86, No. 2, June 1964, pp. 218–220.
Loehrke, R. I.; and Nagib, H. M.: Control of Free-Stream Turbulence by Means of Honeycombs: A Balance between Suppression and Generation. J. Fluids Eng., Vol. 98, Ser. I, No. 3, September 1976, pp. 342–353.
Prandtl, L.: Attaining a Steady Air Stream in Wind Tunnels. NACA TM 726, 1933.
Schubauer, G. B.; Spangenberg, W. G.; and Klebanoff, P. S.: Aerodynamic Characteristics of Damping Screens. NACA TN 2001, 1950.
Dryden, Hugh L.; and Schubauer, G. B.: The Use of Damping Screens for the Reduction of Wind-Tunnel Turbulence. J. Aeronaut. Sci., Vol. 14, No. 4, Apr. 1947, pp. 221–228.
Collar, A. R.: The Effect of a Gauze on the Velocity Distribution in a Uniform Duct. R. & M. No. 1867, British A.R.C., 1939.
Taylor, G. I.; and Batchelor, G. K.: The Effect of Wire Gauze on Small Disturbances in a Uniform Stream. Q. J. Mech. & Appl. Math., Vol. 2, Pt. 1, March 1949, pp. 1–29.
Harvey, William D.; Stainback, P. Calvin; and Owen, F. Kevin: Evaluation of Flow Quality in Two Large NASA Wind Tunnels at Transonic Speeds. NASA TP-1737, 1980.
Owen, F. K.; Stainback, P. Calvin; and Harvey, William D.: An Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Flow Quality in Wind Tunnels. AGARD-CP-348, Wind Tunnels and Testing Techniques, pp. 12–17, 12–22.
Scheiman, James; and Brooks, J. D.: A Comparison of Experimental and Theoretical Turbulence Reduction from Screens, Honeycomb and Honeycomb-Screen Combinations. A Collection of Technical Papers — AIAA 11th Aerodynamic Testing Conference, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1980, pp. 129–137. (Available as AIAA-80–0433.)
McKinney, Marion O.; and Scheiman, James: Evaluation of Turbulence Reduction Devices for the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel NASA TM-81792, 1981.
Scheiman, James: Considerations for the Installation of Honeycomb and Screens to Reduce Wind-Tunnel Turbulence. NASA TM-81868, 1981.
Stainback, P. C.; Johnson, C. B.; and Basnett, C. B.: Preliminary Measurements of Velocity, Density, and Total Temperature Fluctuations in Compressible Subsonic Flow. AIAA 21st Aerospace Sciences Meeting, January 1983.
Stainback, P. C.: A Review of Hot-Wire Anemometry in Transonic Flows. ICIASF ‘85, pp. 67–78, Stanford, CA, August 1985.
Bobbitt, P. J.: Instrumentation Advances for Transonic Testing. Transonic Symposium: Theory, Application, and Experiment, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, April 19–21, 1988, Jerome T. Foughner, Jr. (Compiler), NASA CP-3020, Vol. I, Part 2.
Jones, G. S.; Stainback, P. C.; Harris, C. D.; Brooks, C. W.; and Clukey, S. J.: Flow Quality Measurements for the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel LFC Experiment. 27th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Reno, NV, January 9–12, 1989, AIAA Paper No. 89–0150.
Jones, G. S.; and Stainback, P. C.: A New Look at Wind Tunnel Flow Quality for Transonic Flows. SAE 881452 Aerospace Technology Conference and Exposition, Anaheim, CA, October 1988.
Bauer, F.; Garabedian, P.; and Korn, D.: A Theory of Supercritical Wing Sections, With Computer Programs and Examples. Volume 66 of Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, Springer-Verlag, 1972.
Bauer, Frances; Garabedian, Paul; Korn, David; and Jameson, Antony: Supercritical Wing Sections II. Volume 108 of Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, Springer-Verlag, 1975.
Harris, Charles D.: Aerodynamic Characteristic of a 14-PercentThick NASA Supercritical Airfoil Designed for a Normal-Force Coefficient of 0.7. NASA TM X-72712, 1975.
Allison, D. O.; and Dagenhart, J. R.: Design of a LaminarFlow-Control Supercritical Airfoil for a Swept Wing. CTOL Transport Technology-1978, NASA CP-2036, Part 1, 1978, pp. 395–408.
Allison, D. O.: Inviscid Analysis of Two Supercritical LaminarFlow-Control Airfoils at Design and Off-Design Conditions. NASA TM-84657, 1983.
Allison, D. O.; and Dagenhart, J. R.: Two Experimental Supercritical Laminar-Flow-Control Swept-Wing Airfoils. NASA TM-89073, February 1987.
Pfenninger, W.; Reed, Helen L.; and Dagenhart, J. R.: Design Considerations of Advanced Supercritical Low-Drag Suction Airfoils. Viscous Flow Drag Reduction, Gary R. Hough, ed., AIAA, c. 1980, pp. 249–271.
Van Ingen, J. L.; Blom, J. J. H.; and Goei, J. H.: Design Studies of Thick Laminar Flow Airfoils for Low-Speed Flight Employing Turbulent Boundary-Layer Suction over the Rear Part. AGARD CP-365, May 1984.
Klebanoff, P. S.; and Tidstrom, K. D.: Evolution of Amplified Waves Leading to Transition in a Boundary Layer with Zero Pressure Gradient. NASA TN D-195, 1958.
Dagenhart, J. R.: Amplified Crossflow Disturbances in the Laminar Boundary Layer on Swept Wings with Suction. NASA TP1902, 1981.
Srokowski, A. J.; and Orszag, S. A.: Mass Flow Requirements for LFC Wing Design. AIAA Paper 77–1222, August 1977.
Mack, L. M.: Transition Prediction and Linear Stability Theory. AGARD CP-224, January 1970.
Malik, M. R.; and Orszag, S. A.: Efficient Computation of the Stability of Three-Dimensional Compressible Boundary Layers. AIAA Paper 81–1277, June 1981.
El Hady, N. M.: On the Stability of Three-Dimensional Compressible Nonparallel Boundary Layers. AIAA 80–1374, July 1980.
Reed, H. L.; and Nayfeh, A. H.: Stability of Compressible Three-Dimensional Boundary-Layer Flows. AIAA 82–1009, June 1982.
Reed, H. L.: Wave Interactions in Swept Wing Flows. Phys. Fluids, Vol. 30, 1987.
El Hady, N. M.: Evolution of Resonant Wave Triads in Three-Dimensional Boundary Layers. Phys. Fluids, March 1989.
Nayfeh, A. H.: Effect of Streamwise Vortices on TollmienSchlichting Waves. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 107, 1981, p. 441.
Nayfeh, A. H.: Influence of Görtler Vortices on TollmienSchlichting Waves. AIAA PPer 87–1206, 1987.
Malik, M. R.: Wave Interaction in Three-Dimensional Boundary Layers. AIAA Paper 86–1129, 1980.
Herbert, T.; and Morkovin, M. V.: Dialogue on Bridging Some Gaps in Stability and Transition Research. Laminar-Turbulent Transition, R. Eppler and H. Fasel, eds., Springer-Verlag, 1980.
Saric, W. S.; and Reed, H. L.: Three-Dimensional Stability of Boundary Layers. Proceeding Perspectives in Turbulence Symposium, Göttingen, West Germany, May 11–15, 1987.
Morkovin, M. V.: On the Many Faces of Transition Viscous Drag Reduction. C. S. Wells, ed., Plenum Publ., 1969.
Kaups, K.; and Cebeci, T.:, Compressible Laminar Boundary Layers with Suction on Swept and Tapered Wings. J. Aircraft, Vol. 14, No. 7, July 1977, pp. 661–667.
Mack, L. M.: On the Stability of the Boundary Layer on a Transonic Swept Wing. AIAA 79–0264, January 1979.
Pfenninger, W.: Special Course on Concepts for Drag Reduction, Chapter 3 - Laminar Flow Control, Laminarization. AGARD Report 654, June 1977.
Smith, A. M. O.; and Gameroni, N.: Transition, Pressure Gradient, and Stability Theory. Proc. Int. Congress Appl. Mech., 9, Brussels, Vol. 4, 1956.
Van Ingen, J. L.: A Suggested Semi-Empirical Method for the Calculation of the Boundary-Layer Transition Region. Report No. VTH 71, VTH 74, Delft, Holland, 1956.
Hefner, J. N.; and Bushnell, D. M.: Application of Stability Theory to Laminar Flow Control. AIAA Paper 79–1493, July 1979.
Smith, A. M. O.: On Growth of Taylor-Görtler Vortices Along Highly Concave Walls. Q. Appl. Math., Vol. XIII, No. 3, Oct. 1955, pp. 233–262.
El-Hady, Nabil M.; and Verma, Alok K.: Growth of Görtler Vortices in Compressible Boundary Layers Along Curved Surfaces. AIAA-81–1278, June 1981.
Kobayashi, R.: Taylor-Görtler Instablity of a Boundary Layer with Suction or Blowing. Rep. No. 289, Inst. of High Speed Mechanics, Tohoku Univ., Vol. 32, 1975, pp. 129–148.
Pfenninger, W.; and Syberg, J.: Reduction of Acoustic Disturbances in the Test Section of Supersonic Wind Tunnels by Laminarizing Their Nozzles and Test Section Wall Boundary Layers by Means of Suction. NASA CR-2436, 1974.
Carlson, Leland A.: TRANDES: A FORTRAN Program for Transonic Airfoil Analysis or Design. NASA CR-2821, 1977.
Newman, Perry A.; Anderson, E. Clay; and Peterson, John B., Jr.: Aerodynamic Design of the Contoured Wind-Tunnel Lever for the NASA Supercritical, Laminar-Flow-Control, Swept-Wing Experiment. NASA TP-2335, September 1984.
Carmichael, B. H.: Surface Waviness Criteria for Swept and Unswept Laminar Suction Wings. Rep. No. NOR-59–438 (BLC123) Contract AF33(616)-3168), Northrop Aircraft, Inc., August 1959.
Carmichael, B. H.; and Pfenninger, W.: Surface Imperfection Experiments on a Swept Laminar Suction Wing. Rep. No. NOR-59–454 (BLC-124), Northrop Corp., August 1959.
Pfenninger, W.; Bacon, J.; and Goldsmith, J.: Flow Disturbances Induced by Low-Drag Boundary-Layer Suction through Slots. Phys. Fluids Suppl., Vol. 10, No. 9, Pt. II, September 1967, pp. S112–5114.
Harris, Charles D.; Harvey, William D.; and Brooks, Cuyler W., Jr.: The NASA Langley Laminar-Flow-Control Experiment on a Swept, Supercritical Airfoil, Design Overview, NASA TP-2809, May, 1988.
Maddalon, Dal V.; and Poppen, William A., Jr.: Design and Fabrication of Large Suction Panels with Perforated Surfaces for Laminar Flow Control Testing in a Transonic Wind Tunnel. NASA TM-89011, 1986.
Harris, C. D.; and Brooks, C. W., Jr.: Modifications to the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel for the Laminar Flow Control Experiment. NASA TM-4032, 1988.
Newman, P. A.; Kemp, W. B.; and Garriz, J. A.: Wall Interference Assessment and Correlations. Transonic Symposium: Theory, Application, and Experiment. NASA CP-3020, Vol. I and I I, April 1988.
Harris, C. D.; Brooks, C. W., Jr.; Stack, J. P.; and Clukey, P. G.: The NASA Langley Laminar-Flow-Control Experiment on a Swept Supercritical Airfoil - Basic Results for Slotted Configuration. NASA TM-4100, June 1989.
Brooks, C. W., Jr.; Harris, C. D.; and Harvey, W. D.: The NASA Langley Laminar-Flow-Control Experiment on a Swept Supercritical Airfoil — Drag Equations. NASA TM-4096, February 1989.
Berry, S. A.: Incompressible Boundary-Layer Stability Analysis of LFC Experimental Data for Sub-Critical Mach Numbers. NASA CR-3999, July 1986.
Brooks, C. W., Jr.; and Harris, C. D.: Results of LFC Experiment on Slotted Swept Supercritical Airfoil in Langley’s 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel. NASA CP-2487, Part 2, May 1987.
Berry, S. A.; Dagenhart, J. R.; Brooks, C. W., Jr.; and Harris, C. D.: Boundary-Layer Stability Analysis of LaRC 8-Foot LFC Experimental Data. NASA CP-2487, Part 2, March 1987.
Harvey, W. D.; Harris, C. D.; Sewall, W. G.; and Stack, J. P.: Laminar Flow Wind Tunnel Experiments. NASA CP-3020, Vol. I and I I, April 1988.
Berry, S. A.; Dagenhart, J. R.; Viken, J. K.; and Yeaton, R. B.: Boundary-Layer Stability Analysis of NLF and LFC Experimental Data at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds. SAE TP-871859, October 1987.
Vijgen, P. M. H. W.; Dodbele, S. S.; Pfenninger, W.; and Holmes, B. T.: Analysis of Wind Tunnel Boundary-Layer Transition Experiments on Axisymmetric Bodies at Transonic Speeds Using Compressible Boundary-Layer Stability Theory. AIAA 88–0008, January 1988.
Croom, C. C.; Manuel, G. S.; and Stack, J. P.: In-Flight Detection of Tollmien-Schlichting Instabilities in Laminar Flow. SAE Paper 871016, April 1987.
Boeing Commercial Airplane Company: Flight Survey of the 757 Wing Noise Field and Its Effects on Laminar Boundary Layer Transition. Vols. I and II. NASA CR-178216.
Rozendaal, R. A.: Natural Laminar Flow Flight Experiments on a Swept Wing Business Jet - Boundary Layer Stability Analysis. NASA CR-3975, May 1986.
Rozendaal, R. A.: Variable-Sweep Transition Flight Experiment ( VSTFE) Stability Code Development and Clean-Up Glove Data Analysis. NASA CP- 2487, March 1987.
Befus, J.; Nelson, R.; Latos, J., Sr.; and Ellis, D.: Flight Test Investigations of a Wing Designed for Natural Laminar Flow. SAE TP-871044, April 1982.
Runyan, L. J.; Navran, B. H.; and Rozendaal, R. A.: F-111 Natural Laminar Flow Glove Flight Test Data Analysis and Boundary-Layer Stability Analysis. NASA CR-166051, 1984.
Runyan, L. J.: Boundary Layer Stability Analysis of a Natural Laminar Flow Glove on the F-111 Tact Airplane. Symposium on Viscous Drag Reduction, Dallas, Texas, November 7–8, 1979.
Fisher, D. F.; and Dougherty, N. S.: In Flight Transition Measurements on a 10 Degree Cone at Mach Numbers Form 0.5 to 2.0. NASA TP-1971, June 1982.
Mack, L. M.: Progress in Compressible Boundary-Layer Stability Computations. Proceedings of the Boundary-Layer Transition Workshop, Vol. IV, Rept. No. TOR-0172(52816–16)-5, December 1971.
Johnson, Charles, B.; Carraway, Debra L.; Hopson, Purnell, Jr.; and Tran, Sang Q.: Status of a Specialized Boundary Layer Transition Detection System for Use in the U.S. National Transonic Facility. Presented at the 12th International Congress on Instrumentation in Aerospace Simulation Facilities, Williamsburg, Virginia, June 22–25, 1987.
Stack, J. P.; Mangalam, S. M.; and Berry, S. A.; A Unique Measurement Technique to Study Laminar-Separation Bubble Characteristics on an Airfoil. AIAA Paper 87–1271, June 1987.
Goradia, S. H.; Bobbitt, P. J.; and Harvey, W. D.: Computational Results for the Effects of External Disturbances on Transition Location on Bodies of Revolution from Subsonic to Supersonic Speeds and Comparisons with Experimental Data. Aerospace Technology Conference and Exposition, Anaheim, CA, September 25–28, 1989, SAE Technical Paper Series 892381.
Kalburgi, Vijay; Mangalam, S. M.; Dagenhart, J. R.; and Tiwari, S. N.: Görtler Instability on an Airfoil. Proceedings of Conference on “Research in Natural Laminar-Flow Control,” NASA CP2487, Part 1, 1987.
Goradia, S. H.; Bobbitt, P. J.; Morgan, H. L.; Ferris, J. C.; and Harvey, W. D.: Results of Correlations for Transition Location on a Clean-Up Glove Installed on an F-14 Aircraft and Design Studies for a Laminar Glove for the X-29 Aircraft Accounting for Spanwise Pressure Gradient. Proceedings of a “Transonic Symposium” held at NASA Langley Research Center, NASA CP-3020, Vol. II, April 19–21, 1988.
Bobbitt, Percy J.: Transition Research Opportunities at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds. Instability, and Transition Proceedings. NASA Langley Research Center, May 15 - June 19, 1989, Robert G. Voigt and M. Y. Hussaini (eds. ), Springer-Verlag.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1992 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bobbitt, P.J., Harvey, W.D., Harris, C.D., Brooks, C.W. (1992). The Langley 8-ft Transonic Pressure Tunnel Laminar-Flow-Control Experiment. In: Barnwell, R.W., Hussaini, M.Y. (eds) Natural Laminar Flow and Laminar Flow Control. ICASE/NASA LaRC Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2872-1_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2872-1_8
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7703-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-2872-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive