Shuttle Orbiter Experimental Boundary-Layer Transition Results with Isolated Roughness

TLDR: The effect of isolated roughness on the windward surface boundary layer of the Shuttle Orbiter has been experimentally examined in the NASA Langley Research Center 20-InchMach 6 Tunnel as discussed by the authors.

Abstract: The effect of isolated roughness on the windward surface boundary layer of the Shuttle Orbiter has been experimentally examined in the NASA Langley Research Center 20-InchMach 6 Tunnel. The size and location of isolated roughness elements (intended to simulate raised ormisalignedShuttleOrbiter Thermal Protection System tiles and protruding gap Ž ller material) were varied to systematically examine the response of the boundary layer. Global heat transfer images of the windward surface of a 0.75%-scaleOrbiter at an angle of attack of 40 deg were obtained over a range of Reynolds numbers using phosphor thermography and were used to infer the status of the boundary layer. Computationalpredictions were performed to provide both laminar and turbulent heating levels for comparison to the experimental data and to provide  owŽ eld parameters used for investigatingboundary-layer transition correlations. A variety of roughness heights and locations along the windward centerline were used. The roughness-transition correlation, using the predicted edge parameters Re /Me and k/ , was well behaved. The off-centerline results illustrate the potential for an asymmetric transition pattern to be isolated to one side of the vehicle, thereby causing the increased yawing moments experienced in  ight.