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The concept of laminar flow applied to aircraft seems like a little-explored topic. Clearly there is benefit as the article demonstrates. Imagine these small "
by CrimsonCape 2y ago
The concept of laminar flow applied to aircraft seems like a little-explored topic. Clearly there is benefit as the article demonstrates.
Imagine these small "microvanes" evolved into 3D printed laminar-flow structures.
For example, think a honeycomb pattern extruded into hundreds of small tubes. Or, as another example, aircraft with "fur"...imagine the leading edge of a wing covered in fine stiff bristles. Literally "combing" the air as it passes over the wing.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago> laminar flow applied to aircraft seems like a little-explored topic You’re sort of describing the fundamental gestalt of an aircraft: lift. Aerospace engineers (hello!) spend a lot of time on laminar flow about the wing because when it stops being laminar the flow separates and then the plane goes down more.
- Onavo 2y agoYes but pure laminar flow wings have undesirable stall characteristics.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago> pure laminar flow wings have undesirable stall characteristics Sure. My point is that if there's one thing aerospace engineers are constantly thinking about, it's fluid flow. Including, critically, when it's laminar and when it's not.
- calmbonsai 2y agoAll about 'dem Navier–Stokes.
- peterdsharpe 2y ago> when it stops being laminar the flow separates Not true, laminar/turbulent and attached/separated are independent descriptors. Flow can be laminar+attached, laminar+separated (e.g., laminar separation bubbles), turbulent+attached (e.g., the majority of boundary layers on large aircraft), or turbulent+separated.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago> laminar/turbulent and attached/separated are independent descriptors You’re right, I should have said when state changes. L/T:A/S are theoretically independent, but not independent for a given airfoil. (High-lift airfoils, common in gliders and most airframes with flaps deployed, are turbulent boundary-layer airfoils.)
- Onavo 2y agoIs this for laminar flow or is this a vortex generator?
- sandworm101 2y agoYa, this is about triggering vortexes in order to keep the flow stable and near the skin. It isn't about laminar flow which, at the back end of an airplane, isn't such an advantage.
- master_crab 2y agoLaminar flow over aircraft has been studied for decades. Hell the mustang used a NACA airfoil specifically designed to maximize laminar flow.