STUDY ON VORTEX GENERATOR FLOW-CONTROL FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INLET DISTORTION

The present study demonstrates that the reduced Navier-Stokes RNS3D code can be used very effectively to develop a vortex generator installation to minimize the engine face circumferential distortion by controlling secondary flow. The computing times required are small enough that studies such as this are feasible within an analysis-design environment with all its constraints of time and costs. This research study also established the nature of the performance improvements that can be realized with vortex flow control, and suggests a set of aerodynamic properties (called observations) that can be used to arrive at a successful vortex generator installation design. This study also indicated that scaling between flight and typical wind-tunnel test conditions is possible only within a very narrow range of generator configurations close to an optimum installation. Lastly, this study indicated that vortex generator installation design for inlet ducts is more complex than simply satisfying the requirement of attached flow, it must satisfy the requirement of minimum engine face distortion.