Mitigation of Roughness-Induced Boundary-Layer Transition on Airfoils Using Shielding Strips

What is it about?

Maintaining laminar flow is critical to the performance of laminar flow wings. When insects strike and leave debris or roughness, they can disrupt the flow and trigger a turbulent boundary layer, spoiling the benefits of this type of wing and penalizing fuel efficiency. This study investigated how flat shielding strips could be placed near typical roughness accumulation zones to protect and mitigate boundary layer transition. The experiment used infrared thermography to determine the laminar or turbulent state of the boundary layer. Optimal positioning and geometry of these strips were determined, and the results confirm that shielding can effectively counteract the disturbances caused by insect strikes.

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