BOUNDARY LAYER CONTROL-DRAG REDUCTION BY USE OF COMPLIANT COATINGS

Abstract

Tests were conducted on 6 models of identical size to determine whether a reduction in drag could be obtained by the use of compliant coatings (trademarked Lamiflo) to stabilize a laminar boundary layer. Two noncompliant plastic models were manufactured. One was used as a standard for comparing the drag obtained on four models covered with various compliant coatings, and the other was instrumented with pressure taps in order to obtain body pressure measurements. None of the compliant bodies showed a drag reduction. The inability, during fabrication and testing, to maintain a faired transition from the metal nose adapter ring to the coating caused separation to occur at this discontinuity and probably turbulent flow to exist in an area designed to be laminar. Laminar flow on the forward portion of the coating is required if the coating is to stabilize the laminar boundary layer. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0292933

Entities

People

  • F.w. Puryear

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Boundary Layer
  • Boundary Layer Control
  • Discontinuities
  • Drag
  • Drag Reduction
  • Flow
  • Laminar Boundary Layer
  • Laminar Flow
  • Layers
  • Measurement
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Turbulent Flow

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Surface Coatings Technology.