Deformable Bump Cover for Aircraft Blade Shock Wave Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock wave suppression devices on aircraft blades increase drag outside a predetermined lift coefficient range, limiting their effectiveness in reducing drag across all operational conditions.
Innovation Solution
A shock wave suppression device featuring a deformable bump cover made of elastic alloy, which can protrude outward from the blade surface, controlled by a displacing unit using a heat source and shape memory materials to adjust its state based on lift coefficient, thereby reducing drag by transforming between steady and deformed states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shock bump is provided to protrude from the blade surface, then drag increase due to shock wave generation is suppressed within a predetermined lift coefficient range, but drag increase occurs on the blade surface outside this range
Solution Approach 1:
The shock bump is designed with a deformable cover that can dynamically change its protrusion state. The cover transitions between a first state (protruding from the blade surface) and a second state (retracted to follow the blade surface), allowing the device to adapt to different lift coefficient ranges and operational conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between drag suppression within a specific range and adaptability across all ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the geometric parameter of the bump cover (protrusion height) based on operational conditions. By controlling the cover's deformation state, the effective bump height is adjusted: protruding when shock wave suppression is needed, and retracted when it would cause drag increase, thus optimizing performance across varying lift coefficients.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a deformable bump cover is used to adjust between protruding and retracted states, then adaptability to different lift coefficients is improved, but device complexity increases due to the displacing unit
Solution Approach 1:
The displacing unit replaces complex mechanical actuation systems with a more simplified mechanism. Instead of using motors, actuators, or complex linkages, the invention employs a deformable cover structure that can be actuated by simpler means (such as pressure differential, shape memory materials, or elastic deformation), thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to respond to varying lift coefficients.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively reduces drag on the blade surface by adjusting its configuration in response to changing lift coefficients, improving fuel efficiency and aerodynamic performance across various flight phases.
Implementation Method 1
a bump cover (13) provided to follow the blade surface and being deformable to protrude outward from the blade surface
Implementation Method 2
a displacing unit (14) configured to displace the bump cover (13) between a steady state to follow the blade surface and a deformed state to protrude outward from the blade surface
Data Source
AI summary
A shock wave suppression device is configured to suppress a shock wave generated on a blade surface of a blade, the shock wave suppression device including a bump cover provided to follow the blade surface and deformable to protrude outward from the blade surface, and a displacing unit configured to displace the bump cover between a steady state to follow the blade surface and a deformed state to protrude outward from the blade surface. The bump cover has a curved shape in the deformed state configured to be a continuous surface from an upstream side to a downstream side in a flow direction of a fluid on the blade surface.