Natural laminar flow data from full-scale flight and wind-tunnel experimentsExperimental results obtained at NASA Langley during studies of natural laminar flow (NLF) over commercially produced aircraft surfaces are reported. The general aviation aircraft examined were light aircraft, yet displayed NLF extents close to the maximum available and equivalent to high performance business aircraft flying envelopes. Sublimating chemicals and acoustic detection techniques were employed to measure the boundary layer transition. Theoretical predictions of boundary layer stability were found to match well with the experimental data, with consideration given to both swept wings and the amplitudes of allowable waves on the airfoil surfaces. The presence of the NLF on the airfoil surfaces confirmed the benefits available from use of composite materials for airfoil surfaces.
Document ID
19830055191
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Holmes, B. J. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Coy, P. F. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Yip, L. P. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Brown, P. W. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Obara, C. J. (George Washington University Hampton, VA, United States)