Passive Shock Wave Boundary Layer Control For Drag Reduction On A Convex Transonic Airfoil

Proceedings of the 4th European Drag Reduction Meeting

A growing research effort is being mounted in a number of countries into investigations of ideas for drag reduction, some novel and some that were looked at in the past but were not then pursued to the point of application because the economic facts of life were different from and less pressing than they are now. These ideas include means for reducing skin friction drag (e.g. compliant walls, boundary layer control, etc.), induced drag (e.g. winglets), interference drag, transonic shock wave drag (supercritical wings) and supersonic wave drag. In addition the internal aerodynamics of ducting, especially diffusers is receiving attention to improve the performance of engines.