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Smart Mesoflaps: Meosflaps for Shock/Boundary Layer Interaction Control

Detailed Technology Description: This new technology employs a mesoflap that dynamically optimizes performance and operation as flight operational conditions change.

Countries: United States

Application No.: 6651935

*Abstract

This new technology employs a mesoflap that dynamically optimizes performance and operation as flight operational conditions change. It efficiently reduces and prevents flow separation caused by shock/boundary-layer interaction (SBLI) to improve the downstream boundary layer within a jet engine. Greater control of SBLI can improve jet engine performance and potentially decrease the complexity and associated cost.

DESCRIPTION/DETAILS

Smart Mesoflaps address the common technical problem of flow separation associated with aircrafts that attain speeds of Mach 2.5 or more. During supersonic flight, shockwaves exert significant forces on the thin layer of air around the aircraft boundary layer. These shockwaves interact with the boundary layer and cause deformation of the layer. These undesired interactions effect performance, longevity, and ultimately safety concerns, especially when the interactions occur inside the engine inlets. Current and previous systems utilize bleed systems to control these interactions.Bleed systems can have several drawbacks, including increased expense, weight, drag and complexity.The product is used to control SBLI, which may occur in supersonic jet engines, transonic airfoils, other transonic aircraft parts, or any supersonic object. By controlling SBLI, drag, flow unsteadiness, and generated noise are reduced and boundary layer profiles are improved.

There are 3 different configurations of the mesoflaps, which are centered on the aero-elastic flap material:

Conventional Metal Alloy Mesoflaps (CMAM)
- Has been tested and simulated with various aluminum alloysOf interest due to its ubiquity and robustness in aircraft inlet constructionPhysical properties such as the linear stress-strain curve are well understood
Stress-Activated Smart Mesoflaps (SASM)
- Has employed various nitinol alloys and undergone wind tunnel testingMaterial is super-elasticCan withstand far greater deflections before physical deformation occursManufacturing can produce a non-linear stress-strain curve (improve performance during subsonic conditions)Much more resilient to aero-elastic figure
Thermally-Activated Smart Mesoflaps (TASM)
- Incorporates all advantages of SASMAllows closed-loop active control of flaps by changing flap stiffnessDesign under development

APPLICATIONS

Military aircraft

Other high speed aircraft

BENEFITS

Reduced drag: Thickening the boundary layer produces a system of weaker shocks to reduced drag.
Improved boundary layer shape factor: Downstream suction is used to improve boundary layer shape factor and reduce large-scale unsteadiness.
Smaller, lighter inlets: Without required pumping power or ducting these meso-flaps can be used to design more compact inlets.
Cost-effective: The system requires a one-time installation.
Bleed and suction are locally controlled: Adaptivity eliminates the need to geometrically partition sections of the boundary layer surface for suction and blowing separately.

For more information about this technology, please contact the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Office of Technology Management at otm@illinois.edu.

*IP Issue Date: None

*IP Type: Utility

Country/Region: USA

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