Aerodynamic structure with series of shock bumps
AssigneeAirbus UK Limited
InventorNorman Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerodynamic structure (1) comprising a series of shock bumps (3a, 3b, 3c) extending from its surface. The shock bumps are distributed along a line (7) with a smaller mean angle of sweep than an unperturbed shock (4) which would form adjacent to the surface during transonic movement of the structure in the absence of the shock bumps. Instead of being distributed along the line of the unperturbed shock, the shock bumps are distributed along a line which is less swept than the mean angle of sweep of the unperturbed shock. When the structure is moved at a transonic speed; a shock forms adjacent to its surface and the shock bumps perturb the shock (9) so as to reduce its angle of sweep.
Claims14
An aerodynamic structure comprising a series of shock bumps extending from its surface, the shock bumps being distributed along a line with a smaller mean angle of sweep than an unperturbed shock which would form adjacent to the surface during transonic movement of the structure in the absence of the shock bumps.
A method of operating an aerodynamic structure comprising a series of shock bumps extending from its surface, the method comprising:
- moving the structure at a transonic speed;
- forming a shock adjacent to its surface;
- and
- perturbing the shock with the series of shock bumps so as to reduce its angle of sweep.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.