Gap seals effectiveness study?

Le lundi 12 juin 2017 07:38:22 UTC+2, Bret Hess a écritÂ*:
Hi, we see lots of mylar gap seals and read lots of discussion of them. Does anyone know of an engineering study that quantifies their effect on sailplane wings or other wings? Nothing pops up quickly in Google. I'm wondering how much science there is to this practice.

I'm hoping for more than anecdotal comments. Saying that top racers all use them doesn't tell us much because so do almost everyone.

There is quite a number of gliders which require the seals in place to be airworthy.

Apart from the obvious loss of performance without seals, the air flow escaping through this area might induce flutter (which in turn will induce a loss of performance of 100%).

Bert "TW"

The air flow escaping through this area might induce flutter (which in turn will induce a loss of performance of 100%).

Bert "TW"

Are you talking about the exterior mylar seals or the fabric "S" seals in the joint? Once the fabric seals are in place I don't think air escaping is the real issue, more of turbulence due to the dip in the sahpe, but I suppose that could aid flutter.

On Monday, June 12, 2017 at 11:51:11 AM UTC-6, wrote:
The air flow escaping through this area might induce flutter (which in turn will induce a loss of performance of 100%).

Bert "TW"

Are you talking about the exterior mylar seals or the fabric "S" seals in the joint? Once the fabric seals are in place I don't think air escaping is the real issue, more of turbulence due to the dip in the sahpe, but I suppose that could aid flutter.

I see now that some gliders don't have seals internal to the joint, and depend only on these exterior seals, so you're right about the flutter problem.