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wolram
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I am sure i read about experiments with wings drilled with many tiny holes, the idea i think was to break up the boundary layer, did any thing come of out of these experiments?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blown_flapIn a conventional blown flap a small amount of the compressed air produced by the jet engine is "bled" off of the compressor stage and piped to channels running along the rear of the wing. There it is forced through slots in the wing flaps of the aircraft when the flaps reach certain angles. This air follows the flap profile, aimed downward to provide more lift. The bleed air prevents the boundary layer (slow-moving air that accumulates on the airframe surface) on the upper surface of the flap from stagnating, further improving lift. At low speeds the amount of air being delivered by this system can be a significant fraction of the overall airflow, generating as much lift as if the plane were traveling at much higher speeds.
turbo-1 said:I don't know about that, Woolie, but I have a friend who has been the National champion in his drag-racing class (he runs a classic 340 Duster) and is always competitive. He claims that if you polish intake manifolds, it supports laminar boundary-flow and that causes drag. He has his intake manifolds roughened to some arcane standards that he and his head-work specialist know, and he claims that the micro-turbulence in the air/manifold boundary acts like "little ball-bearings" as he puts it, to allow the bulk of the intake air to get to the cylinders with as little drag as possible. It makes sense, because if you can get the air rolling in little tiny pockets and the air is rolling to counter to the bulk air flow just at the boundary, and is rolling IN the direction of the bulk air flow just a little bit away from the air-manifold boundary, the bulk of the air would get a little boost from the rotating air cells near the boundary. He races in a class that is very restrictive about the modifications that are allowed to the car, so every little secret helps.
russ_watters said:It actually goes both ways depending on how you are looking to do it. I have to run, but here's a link to the opposite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blown_flap
wolram said:Is this like a venturi effect?
Mech_Engineer said:An aero professor and some grad students at my university were developing a wing that instead of using control surfaces used tons of tiny holes on the top and bottom of the wing of the aircraft. Using an internal pump and ducting to the holes, they directly changed the pressure above/below the wing to control the aircraft's flight, taking over control which would normally be accomplished through control surfaces on the wing.
FredGarvin said:I'll have to see if I can dig up any results or reports.
pantaz said:The holes in the wings clogged too easily to make the system worthwhile.
wolram said:Hi pantaz, did you work with this idea, if so do you have any data.
Wing drilling is the process of creating small holes or cavities in the wings of an aircraft in order to improve its aerodynamic performance. This technique is important because it can reduce drag and increase lift, leading to better fuel efficiency and overall performance of the aircraft.
In experiments, wing drilling is typically performed using a specialized machine called a wing drill. This machine uses a high-speed rotating bit to create precise holes in the wing surface. The size, shape, and location of the holes can be adjusted to test different configurations and measure their effects on aerodynamics.
The results of wing drilling experiments often show a decrease in drag and an increase in lift, which can improve the overall performance of the aircraft. Additionally, the location and size of the holes can affect the flow of air over the wing, leading to different outcomes in terms of aerodynamic performance.
One potential drawback of wing drilling is the added weight and complexity to the aircraft. The holes may also create small disturbances in the airflow, which could affect the stability and control of the aircraft. Additionally, if the holes are not properly designed and tested, they could potentially have a negative impact on the aircraft's performance.
Wing drilling is a valuable tool in the field of aircraft design because it allows researchers to test and measure the effects of small changes in the wing's surface on the overall performance of the aircraft. This information can then be used to improve future designs and create more efficient and effective aircraft.