Predictions and observations of the flow field induced by laminar flow control microperforations

Hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) aims to reduce aircraft skin friction drag by controlling the boundary-layer characteristics through a combination of surface suction and surface profile shaping. Suction is applied through an array of microperforations in the surface; and, to enable HLFC design criteria to be established with confidence, a full understanding of how these suction perforations affect the boundary layer is required. The objective of this paper is to predict the flow field induced by surface suction through single and multiple rows of microperforations, at transonic cruise conditions. A broad range of cases are studied for a variety of geometric and flow configurations by solving the compressible, laminar, Navier-Stokes equations. The geometric parameters considered are perforation diameter, inclination to the surface, and perforation duct profile. The flow parameters consist of the boundary-layer displacement thickness and suction mass flow rate through the hole. From the predictions and analyses of the results, a wide variety of flow field patterns and features are observed; including longitudinal vortices, streamline curvature, large cross-flow velocities, inherently unstable velocity profiles, and a recirculation region at the perforation entrance. The perforation inlet shape is found to have a minimal effect on the induced flow field, but the level of streamwise vorticity is increased for inclined perforations. The size and shape of the sucked stream tube, which is currently used to predict the critical suction velocity, also is determined. For multiple rows of perforations, the flow field characteristics are shown to be influenced by significant interhole effects. The mass flow rate characteristics of microperforations are found to be insensitive to the ratio of hole diameter to boundary-layer displacement thickness. Also, conical bore holes are shown to provide substantial static pressure recovery due to diffusion effects.