Mesoflaps for aeroelastic transpiration for SBLI control

A novel concept termed Mesoflaps for Aeroelastic Transpiration (MAT) i s introduced and analyzed computationally. The concept has the capability t o provide mass and momentum transfer to control shock/boundary-layer interactions (SBLIs). Such interactions are critical for supersonic mixed-compression inlets (which have impinging oblique-shocks) and on transonic external aerodynamic surfaces (which generate near-normal-shocks). The MAT concept consists of a matrix of small flaps (rigidly fixed at their upstream end) covering an enclosed cavity. These flaps are designed to undergo local aeroelastic deflection to achieve proper mass bleed or injection when subjected to gas dynamic shock loads. To investigate the behavior of the aeroelastic system, fluid-structural simulations with unstructured grids are employed. The computations show that the mesoflap system can promote significant recirculation, as well as remove low-speed portions of the boundary layer after shock interaction.