Air Vehicle Technology Integration Program (AVTIP). Delivery Order 0020: Prediction of Manufacturing Tolerances for Laminar Flow, Task 6

摘要

The ultimate goal of the MEATLOAF study is to develop generalized criteria for the allowable size of an excrescence on a laminar flow wing to prevent premature transition. A salient feature of the study is the nondimensionalization of the critical parameters such that the results are applicable to future work and not specific to a particular airframe. Task 1 provided a database of step effects at Reynolds numbers up to approximately 7.5x105. Task 6 is the first step towards extending the Reynolds numbers range to chord Reynolds numbers more applicable to aircraft such as Global Hawk for small pressure gradients. The feasibility of additional testing to include the full-range of pressure gradients at these higher Reynolds numbers was assessed. Figures 1-3 show the approximate range of chord Reynolds numbers for the initial testing of Task 6 in comparison to the completed Task 1 testing.