College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-04 08:14:23
Major
Mechanical Engineering
Honors Course
4600:497
Number of Credits
4
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2021
Abstract
A vortex generator (VG hereafter) is a common feature of an aircraft wing that disturbs the flow on the leading edge of the wing, thus energizing the boundary layer and reducing flow separation. For an aircraft experiencing flow separation, VGs can increase the lift-to-drag ratio of the wing and prevent stall; however, if flow separation isn’t an issue, the unnecessary frontal area of the VGs has the potential to produce parasitic drag. This study seeks to determine whether the use of a deployment system can improve the performance of VG’s by raising or lowering them depending on the angle of attack of the wing. Using wind tunnel testing, a feed-forward control deployment system was developed which improved the lift to drag ratio for some angles of attack, and it was determined that further development could potentially produce a system with significant improvements in aircraft efficiency.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Manigandan Kannan
First Reader
David Warther III
Second Reader
Ray Roos
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Scott Sawyer
Recommended Citation
Whitmire, Solomon B.; Chapanar, Christopher J.; Anderson, Kirklin M.; Amon, Nickalus R.; and Chech, Daniel W., "Design and Testing of a Feed-Forward Control System for Deployable Vortex Generators Dependent on Angle of Attack" (2021). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1382.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1382
Honors College Signature Title Page
Included in
Acoustics, Dynamics, and Controls Commons, Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Commons, Navigation, Guidance, Control and Dynamics Commons, Systems Engineering and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Commons