Aero-Optical Flow Control for Mitigation of Shock Effects in Airborne Applications

ABSTRACT: Spectral Energies, LLC in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame and Georgia Tech proposes to develop and deliver flow control approaches for mitigating adverse effects of shock formation, unsteadiness, and shock-induced separation on aero optical turrets. During Phase I, one passive and two active flow control approaches were identified for a favorable modification of the turret-surrogate flow environment over a range of transonic Mach numbers. The effect of these flow control approaches were characterized with the emphasis on global shock behavior and the ensuing flow separation. Aero-optical measurements were performed with various passive pin configurations which indicated to be promising candidates for mitigating shocks. The Phase II research work will comprise interactive investigations of the flow control mechanisms and their effects on mitigation of aero-optical distortions in canonical flow geometries that mimic major characteristics of the turret flows. The research team anticipates that the eventual outcome of the proposed effort will lead to a toolbox of flow-control devices/approaches/design strategies that would be applied to a wide variety of turret configurations. It is anticipated that the turret design tools, database developed and data analysis under the proposed program will be applied to a broad range of military and civilian aero-optical applications with and without adaptive-optics systems including warfighter missions, laser communications and power beaming. BENEFIT: The commercial products foreseen from the proposed work are turret design concepts, flow control devices, methods, and strategies, aero-optics instrumentation, CFD tools, and wind tunnel database. These products will have significant impact on military applications including the ELLA, Laser Strike Fighter, High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS), unmanned aerial vehicles, and aircraft surveillance systems. They also will have commercial applications such as in astronomy, laser communications, and power beaming.