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Aerodynamic optimization of the flat-plate leading edge for experimental studies of laminar and transitional boundary layers

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Abstract

This work is concerned with the design of a leading edge for a flat-plate model used to study laminar and transitional boundary layers. For this study, the flow over the complete boundary-layer model, including leading edge, flat section, and trailing-edge flap, is modeled. The effect of important geometrical features of the leading edge on the resulting pressure distribution, starting from the well-known symmetric modified super ellipse, is investigated. A minimal pressure gradient on the measurement side of the plate is achieved using an asymmetrical configuration of modified super ellipses, with a thickness ratio of 7/24. An aerodynamic shape optimization is performed to obtain a novel leading edge shape that greatly reduces the length of the non-zero pressure gradient region and the adverse pressure gradient region compared to geometries defined by ellipses. Wind tunnel testing is used to validate the numerical solutions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for its support of this work. This work was partly funded by subcontract from Michigan State University under parent National Science Foundation grant CMMI 0932546. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors would like to thank Profs. Gaster and Saric for their useful comments and discussion on leading-edge geometries. We thank Prof. Zingg for the access to his computational code and technical guidance on CFD related issues.

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  1. University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, Toronto, ON, M3H 5T6, Canada

    Ronald E. Hanson, Howard P. Buckley & Philippe Lavoie

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  1. Ronald E. Hanson
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  2. Howard P. Buckley
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  3. Philippe Lavoie
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Correspondence to Philippe Lavoie.

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Hanson, R.E., Buckley, H.P. & Lavoie, P. Aerodynamic optimization of the flat-plate leading edge for experimental studies of laminar and transitional boundary layers. Exp Fluids 53, 863–871 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-012-1324-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-012-1324-2

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