Laminar flow control technology and application

Friction drag is the major part of the total drag of a transport, so reducing it is essential for improving the performance and reducing the cost of a transport. Since laminar friction drag is much less than the turbulent one, one of the important measures for reducing it is to increase the laminar flow extent, and if possible, to realize a fully laminar flow. For that, three types of laminar flow control technology, i.e., natural laminar flow, fully laminar flow and hybrid laminar flow controls, are formed. In the present paper, drag reducing analysis, the concepts, methods, potential benefits and design methods of laminar flow control technology, and operational maintenance of a laminar flow aircraft (including protection of insect contamination and ice accumulation) are systematically described; Summary of researches of laminar flow control technology during 1930-2000 is briefly introduced and the progress in this field is shown by using examples of X-21A slotted suction flight tests, simulated airlines flight tests of Jetstar HLFC leading edge systems and Boeing 757 HLFC flight tests, and future research is also pointed out.