Laminar flow control: Leap or creep?

Chris Atkin

Laminar flow control: Leap or creep?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The recent meteoric rise in oil prices, coupled with the increasing attention being paid to the impact of aviation upon climate change, has prompted a renewed interest on both sides of the Atlantic in Laminar Flow Control (LFC) Technology. One of the most common claims among research budget holders in the late 1990s was that the aerodynamics of LFC was 'mature'. The author reviews the state of the LFC design toolset with reference to his experiences in the UK aircraft industry and in government service over the past 15 years, most of them directed in some way towards the development and exercising of methods for laminar flow design. The paper concludes with a discussion on whether our aerodynamic knowledge is indeed sufficient to make the 'leap' to an optimised laminar flow transport aircraft, or whether a number of critical design ideas need to be evaluated and refined as we 'creep' towards the dream of a low-emission aircraft.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit
Publication status	Published - 2008
Event	38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit - Seattle, WA, United States Duration: 23 Jun 2008 → 26 Jun 2008

Publication series

Name	38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit

Conference

Conference	38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit
Country/Territory	United States
City	Seattle, WA
Period	23/06/08 → 26/06/08

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

@inproceedings{3928f44bb7224d6d91f5e243924c4e6f,

title = "Laminar flow control: Leap or creep?",

abstract = "The recent meteoric rise in oil prices, coupled with the increasing attention being paid to the impact of aviation upon climate change, has prompted a renewed interest on both sides of the Atlantic in Laminar Flow Control (LFC) Technology. One of the most common claims among research budget holders in the late 1990s was that the aerodynamics of LFC was 'mature'. The author reviews the state of the LFC design toolset with reference to his experiences in the UK aircraft industry and in government service over the past 15 years, most of them directed in some way towards the development and exercising of methods for laminar flow design. The paper concludes with a discussion on whether our aerodynamic knowledge is indeed sufficient to make the 'leap' to an optimised laminar flow transport aircraft, or whether a number of critical design ideas need to be evaluated and refined as we 'creep' towards the dream of a low-emission aircraft.",

author = "Chris Atkin",

year = "2008",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781563479427",

series = "38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit",

booktitle = "38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit",

note = "38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit ; Conference date: 23-06-2008 Through 26-06-2008",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Laminar flow control

T2 - 38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit

AU - Atkin, Chris

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - The recent meteoric rise in oil prices, coupled with the increasing attention being paid to the impact of aviation upon climate change, has prompted a renewed interest on both sides of the Atlantic in Laminar Flow Control (LFC) Technology. One of the most common claims among research budget holders in the late 1990s was that the aerodynamics of LFC was 'mature'. The author reviews the state of the LFC design toolset with reference to his experiences in the UK aircraft industry and in government service over the past 15 years, most of them directed in some way towards the development and exercising of methods for laminar flow design. The paper concludes with a discussion on whether our aerodynamic knowledge is indeed sufficient to make the 'leap' to an optimised laminar flow transport aircraft, or whether a number of critical design ideas need to be evaluated and refined as we 'creep' towards the dream of a low-emission aircraft.

AB - The recent meteoric rise in oil prices, coupled with the increasing attention being paid to the impact of aviation upon climate change, has prompted a renewed interest on both sides of the Atlantic in Laminar Flow Control (LFC) Technology. One of the most common claims among research budget holders in the late 1990s was that the aerodynamics of LFC was 'mature'. The author reviews the state of the LFC design toolset with reference to his experiences in the UK aircraft industry and in government service over the past 15 years, most of them directed in some way towards the development and exercising of methods for laminar flow design. The paper concludes with a discussion on whether our aerodynamic knowledge is indeed sufficient to make the 'leap' to an optimised laminar flow transport aircraft, or whether a number of critical design ideas need to be evaluated and refined as we 'creep' towards the dream of a low-emission aircraft.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78049507999&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:78049507999

SN - 9781563479427

T3 - 38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit

BT - 38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit

Y2 - 23 June 2008 through 26 June 2008

ER -

Laminar flow control: Leap or creep?

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Other files and links

Cite this