Design of Laminar Flow Bodies in Compressible Flow

An optimization method was developed to design axisymmetric body shapes such as fuselages, nacelles, and external fuel tanks with increased transition Reynolds numbers in subsonic compressible flow. The method involves a constraint minimization procedure coupled with analysis of the inviscid and viscous flow regions, and linear stability analysis of the compressible boundary-layer. Boundary-layer transition is predicted by a 'hybrid' transition criterion based on Granville's transition criterion and a criterion using linear stability theory coupled with the e(sup n)-method. A tiptank of a business jet is used as an example to illustrate that the method can be utilized to design an axisymmetric body shape with extensive natural laminar flow. On the original tiptank boundary layer transition is predicted to occur at a transition Reynolds number of 6.04 x 106 on the original tiptank. On the designed body shape a transition Reynolds number of 7.22 x 106 is predicted using compressible linear stability theory coupled with en-method.