A new development in Chinese aviation innovation might change supersonic travel by resolving one of the most complicated issues about it: the sonic boom. Researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University have developed a novel wing design with strategic perforations that could decrease substantially the shockwave effects generated by an aircraft when it approaches the speed of sound.
For over a century, aircraft wings have been rooted in the ideas set by the Wright brothers, whereby lift is generated by faster airflow above the wing’s surface. But let an aircraft approach supersonic speeds and shock waves develop, with them come turbulence, drag and vibrations that cause damage. These effects have been very substantial problems in the development of supersonic jets because they would experience difficulties like shattered windows due to effecting shockwaves. These effects largely kept supersonic travel especially over land in check, and were instrumental in grounding Concorde fleet in 2003.
The research team, led by Professor Gao Chao, proposed a groundbreaking solution by incorporating holes in the wings of supersonic aircraft. Through computer simulations and wind tunnel experiments, they found that these holes could disrupt shockwaves and reduce the resulting vibrations. The innovation also led to a surprising increase of over 10% in aerodynamic efficiency. This is achieved by integrating an air pump within the holes, which adjusts the jet stream’s intensity, reducing turbulence at the wing’s leading edge. Although there is a slight loss of lift, the overall reduction in drag improves the lift-to-drag ratio.
The team’s answer is being praised as a potential improvement even as they continue to test and refine their idea. China’s hole-filled wing design is a straightforward but efficient solution that stands out while other international research teams investigate other ways to get around the difficulties of supersonic flight. If successful, this invention might change the course of aviation history by allowing supersonic passenger flight to resume.