Looks like you are mixing boundary layer trips with vortex generators. They do two different things. Optimal thickness of either is a function of boundary layer thickness. I can point you to some references, but I am just sticking things on my airplane to see what happens.
Hi Howard
Thanks for your reply, I have read many papers on these, and Data gleamed in wind Tunnel test, I do know the difference between the two.
We are using both to help improve the boundry layer (if such a thing exist) or airflow over the wing and control sufaces, The layer trip work either at the LE or farther back on the wing, They also seem to work at the Stab LE or back more on the stab, they also seem to work installed just before the flap line (hingeline).
I have read test and seen VGs working right on the LE and again back farther on the wing. One of those is pictured below...
I also read that using the same wing and only changing the material of a LE Trip resulted in a marked change in it's effectiveness.
I am beginning to agree with Howard that it may be prudent to just go out and do actually flight testing of all of these.
I am also confused as to how 2 similar trips can do this... 1 will only slightly improve the flow for our purposes at lower speeds and low Reynolds numbers but keeps the boundary layer laminar . Then another very similar trip, does the same but with much more effectiveness and changes the layer from laminar to turbulent.
It also "" seems "" you could use trips on a heavy stuntship at the LE and then also near the forward part of the wing high point, and then again just before the hingeline
Randy
Topic: How thick do turbulators need to be? (Read 1013 times)