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A review of the use of vortex generators for mitigating shock-induced separation

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Abstract

This article reviews research into the potential of vortex generators to mitigate shock-induced separation. Studies ranging from those conducted in the early post-war era to those performed recently are discussed. On the basis of the investigations described in this report, it is clear that vortex generators can alleviate shock-induced boundary layer separation. Yet, it will be shown that their potential and efficiency varies considerably in practical applications. Much more success is reported in transonic test cases compared to separation induced in purely supersonic interactions. Under a variety of flow conditions, the best performance is achieved with vortex generators with a height of roughly half the boundary layer thickness and a shape similar to a swept vane. Notwithstanding this, vortex generator performance is not as consistent as it is in low-speed applications. Further work is required before vortex generators can be implemented into the design process for eliminating shock-induced separation on transonic wings and in supersonic inlets.

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Notes

  1. Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) were not available at this time and other measurements such as Pitot probes and hot-wires are very difficult to employ in transonic flows.

  2. Note that this is the first occasion where the boundary layer thickness at the vortex generators was evaluated; an accolade to the high quality of the measurements in this study.

  3. Note that it would be preferable to use the incompressible shape factor to represent the boundary layer state—see Winter and Gaudet [30] for full details.

  4. Estimate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Neil Titchener

  2. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK

    Holger Babinsky

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  1. Neil Titchener
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  2. Holger Babinsky
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Correspondence to Neil Titchener.

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Communicated by A. Hadjadj.

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Titchener, N., Babinsky, H. A review of the use of vortex generators for mitigating shock-induced separation. Shock Waves 25, 473–494 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00193-015-0551-x

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