초록 ▼

The invention is a system of flow control devices which result in reduced skin friction on aerodynamic and hydrodynamic surfaces. The devices cause a breakup of large-scale disturbances in the boundary layer of the flow field. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the riblet device 10 acts to reduce disturban

The invention is a system of flow control devices which result in reduced skin friction on aerodynamic and hydrodynamic surfaces. The devices cause a breakup of large-scale disturbances in the boundary layer of the flow field. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the riblet device 10 acts to reduce disturbances near the boundary layer wall by the use of longitudinal striations forming vee-shaped grooves. These grooves are dimensional on the order of the wall vortices and turbulent burst dimensions 31 depicted in FIG. 3. The large-eddy breakup device 41, depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, is a small strip or airfoil which is suspended in the upper region of the boundary layer. Various physical mechanisms cause a disruption of the large-scale vortices. The combination of the devices of this invention result in a substantial reduction in skin friction drag.

대표청구항 ▼

A combination of devices to reduce skin friction drag by controlling the flow characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer, such that both vertical and horizontal oscillations in the flow are damped, resulting in a substantial reduction in aerodynamic noise and retarded pressure fluctuations that l

A combination of devices to reduce skin friction drag by controlling the flow characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer, such that both vertical and horizontal oscillations in the flow are damped, resulting in a substantial reduction in aerodynamic noise and retarded pressure fluctuations that lead to flutter modes, comprising: a flow surface with an attached turbulent boundary layer; riblet means on said flow surface; large-eddy break-up means suspended above, parallel to, and spanwise across the flow surface within the outer edge of the boundary layer and; means for suspending said large-eddy break-up means within the outer edge of the boundary layer.