Active Flow Control for Trailing Edge Flap Separation

Active Separation Control at the Pylon-Wing Junction of a Real-Scale Model

“…The paths of these vortices indicated here are based on previous research of the pylon-wing junction [12] as well as numerical simulations of the configuration [16]. Several vortices are shed from the geometrical features where local changes in the circulation occur, the most dominant vortices being the outboard slat-step (1) and slat vortex (2), the pylon vortex (3), the strake vortex (4), the nacelle vortex, as well as the inboard slat (6) and slat-step vortex (7). Additional upwash is added to already weakened areas behind the unprotected inboard leading edge.…”

“…An alternative to passive devices like strakes and movables is the technology of Active Flow Control (AFC). It has been subject of research on generic wings [6,7], and has since moved to more complex configurations like outer wing sections [8,9] or the vertical tail plane [10]. First flight test experiments with separation control on the vertical stabilizer of a large airliner show the capability of the technology on industrial scale [11].…”