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Wind tunnel techniques course depicts the types, working and characteristics of wind tunnels in
the laboratory. The flow characteristics and flow visualization in the tunnel are recorded for
further observations.
Objectives
The course should enable the students to:
1) Understand the non-dimensional number by Buckingham theorem
2) Differentiate the wind tunnels on the basis of circuit, air flow and working.
3) Know the calibration of a wind tunnel.
4) Understand the pressure and force measurements in wind tunnel
5) Deduce the flow visualization techniques used in the wind tunnel testing
Outcome
The students should be able to:
1) Solve the Buckingham theorem to find the SI unit of a parameter
2) Clearly understand the working of blow down, in draft tunnels and their specifications
3) Know about horizontal buoyancy, flow angularities are checked while calibration
4) Know about component axis balance and internal balances are read and understood for the
measurements in wind tunnel
5) Get a clear idea about the smoke and tuft flow visualization procedures in WT testing
Dimensions
Physical things are measurable in terms of three primitive quantities (Maxwell 1871)
Mass (M)
Length (L)
Time (T)
NOTE: Temperature, electrical charge, chemical quantity, and luminosity were added as
“primitives” some years later.)
AE 2751 Wind Tunnel Techniques July-Nov. 2016
Principles of Model Testing
Buckingham theorem
Examples: Length (L), Velocity (L/T), Force (ML/T2)
Units: Measurements systems: CGS, MKS, SI
SI units are now the international standard (although many
engineers continue to use Imperial or U.S.)
SI Primitive Units
Dimension Symbol Unit Symbol
Length L meter m
Mass M kilogram kg
Time T second s
Temperature T Kelvin K
Electric Current I Ampere A
Luminous intensity C Candela cd
Amount of substance N Mole mol
Uses:
Check consistency of equations
Deduce expression for physical phenomenon
Step 2:
Parameter: F V D r m
2 2 3
Unit: ML/T L/T L M/L M/LT
Step 4
Select a set of m dimensional parameters that includes all the primary dimensions
Example: For drag on a sphere (m = r = 3) select ϱ, V, D
1 Determine their number from Buckingham theorem. Make sure the appropriate
number of groups is obtained.
2 Identify variables (r, m, g etc.) that contain force quantities and formulate the
corresponding force. For example, Fr=rV2L2 and Fm=mVL. Then take ratios of
these forces (Fr/Fm=rVL/m) to get dimensionless groups.
3 If the force groups do not comprise the number of dimensionless groups sought,
then look for length type terms, velocity type terms, and/ or time type variables
which can be divided to give dimensionless groups.
There may be more than one length in the problem, i. e. L and D which give the
dimensionless group, L/D. Length type variables can also include area and volume, so
that A/L2 and V/L3 are dimensionless groups.
Velocity type terms include velocity, V, angular velocity, w, and volume flow rate, Q,
which yield dimensionless groups, wr/V and Q/VL2.
Time type terms consist of period, t, of the motion and convective time scale, L/V, which give
the dimensionless group, tV/L
Viscous Force, Fv: = shear stress due to viscosity X surface area of flow.
Velocity Volume
Fi
Mass. r . Velocity
Re = = Time = Time
Fv Shear Stress. Area Shear Stress. Area
r Q.V r AV .V r AV .V rVL VL
= = = = =
t .A du
m .A m .A
V m
dy L
Velocity Volume
Fi
Mass. r . Velocity
Eu = = Time = Time
Fp Pr essure. Area Pr essure. Area
r Q.V r AV .V V2 V
= = = =
P. A P. A P/r P/r
Velocity Volume
Fi
Mass. r . Velocity
Fe = = Time = Time
Fg Mass. Gavitational Acceleraion Mass. Gavitational Acceleraion
r Q.V r AV .V V2 V
= = = =
rVolume.g r AL.g gL gL
Velocity Volume
Fi
Mass. r . Velocity
M = = Time = Time
Fe Elastic Stress. Area Elastic Stress. Area
r Q.V r AV .V r L2V 2 V V
= = = = =
K/r C
2
K .A K .A KL
Where : C = K / r
Resultant forces, such as lift and drag, are non-dimensionalized with the dynamic pressure force,
1 2
ρ∞ V∞ A, where A is some characteristic area.
2
FL FD
Lift coefficient,CL = 1 and Drag coefficient, CD = 1
ρ V A
2 ∞ ∞
2 ρ∞ V2∞ A
2
Power is the rate of doing work, FL/T or FV, which requires the dynamic pressure force be
multiplied by V to give power coefficient.
P P P
Power coefficient: CP = 1 =1 =1 (as V=wD)
ρV3 A ρω3 D5 ρV3 D2
2 2 2
P = f (r, D, w, V, C, a)
V V
Π2 = Advace ratio = Π3 = Mach number =
ωD C
Π4 = α
P V V
Cp = =𝑓 , ,α
Then 1 3 5 ωD C
ρω D
2
or Π1 = 𝑓 Π2 , Π3 , Π4
Why is it used :
Geometric Similarity: The model must be the same shape as the prototype. Each
dimension must be scaled by the same factor.
Dynamic Similarity: All forces in the model flow scale by a constant factor to
corresponding forces in the prototype flow.
Complete Similarity: is achieved only if all above three conditions are met.
What is P?
We let uppercase Greek letter P denote a nondimensional parameter,
e.g., Reynolds number Re, Froude number Fr, Drag coefficient, CD, etc.
•Consider automobile experiment
•Drag force is F = f (V, r, m, L)
•Through dimensional analysis, we can reduce the problem to
….then ….
Lp Bp Dp
= = = Lr
Lm Bm Dm
V p1 Vp 2 a p1 ap2
= = Vr ; = = ar
Vm1 Vm 2 am1 am 2
◼ Where: vp1& vp2 and ap1 & ap2 are velocity and accelerations at point 1
& 2 in prototype and vm1 & vm2 and am1 & am2 are velocity and
accelerations at point 1 & 2 in model.
◼ Vr and ar are the velocity ratio and acceleration ratio
( Fi ) p ( Fv ) p ( Fg ) p
= = = Fr
( Fi )m ( Fv )m ( Fg )m
◼ Where: (Fi)p, (Fv)p and (Fg)p are Inertia, Viscous and
Gravitational Forces in Prototype and (Fi)m, (Fv)m And (Fg)m are
Inertia, Viscous and Gravitational Forces in Model.
◼ Fr Is The Force Ratio