Current Status and Prospects for Turbulent Flow Control

Abstract

This paper reviews some of the recent developments in and future prospects for turbulent boundary layer flow control. It addresses turbulent flow control from the point of view of both skin friction drag reduction and flow separation control. The fundamental aspects regarding the evolution and propagation of turbulent boundary layers is described. The state of the art with regard to passive flow control technologies such as riblets and sub-boundary-layer vortex generators is presented and addressed from the point of view of engineering application. Finally, an overview of recent research into the potential for the active control of turbulent boundary layers using emerging technologies such as MEMS is given. In addition to addressing aspects of fluid mechanics the critical importance for research into these technologies being of a multidisciplinary nature is emphasised together with the need for the involvement of the airframe and system integration engineer at an early stage in concept evolution.