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Aerodynamic Testing
Chapter 9

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History of Wind Tunnels

1st attempts at performing aerodynamic
testing was Sir George Cayley.
Langley also used also used a device to aid
in the development of his aerodromes.
Da Vinci the basics of wind tunnel (fixed
position, force air to flow over it)

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First Wind Tunnels

1st wind tunnel recorded in history was developed
by Francis Wenham of England.
Simple box with air blown through by a fan

The 1st American wind tunnel was built at

Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1896.
The largest in the world was built in Ames
Research Center in California with a test section
of 40x80

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Wind Tunnel Design

Open-circuit or Straight through type.

Wright Brothers tunnel

simple & very efficient
figure 9-2, 9-5, 9-6
small open-circuit tunnels are usually inside a building
large tunnels must be open to outside are susceptible to
dust ect.
Open-circuit tunnels are very noisy & surrounded by
high wind current

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Wind Tunnel Design

Closed-Circuit or Return Type
Air is accelerated by the fan and flows through
the tunnel
Turning vanes are installed to guide flow
around the corner
The tunnel widens into a large settling chamber
to decelerate the air; preventing a large build up
of large boundary layer along the wall

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Wind Tunnel Design

Single-Return Type
all wind tunnels discussed thus far have been
single-return

Double Return Type

divides the flow downstream of the test section
and runs through two circuits, each with a
driving fan.
The flow then joins as it enters the settling
chamber & proceeds through a single test
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section

Wind Tunnel Design

Annular
An extension of the double-return concept
A return passage is located around the entire
circumference of the wind tunnel outside the
test section
This design was employed in the NACA
variable density tunnel
figure 9-3

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Wind Tunnel Design

Spin Tunnel
Special type of annular tunnel employed at
Langley Research Center for spin research.
Is mounted vertically with the fan drawing air
upward
Models are introduced into free-flight
conditions then vertical flow adjusted
Figure 9-9

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Types of Wind Tunnel Tests

Original testing in wind tunnels was to a
provide a means to determine lift & drag on
airfoil shapes.
Force Test
Force measurement requires a force to be
exerted (lift & drag forces so termed force test)
The balance can measure only two forces: lift &
drag

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Six-Component Balance
A more complete balance that can measure
all six measures & moments about all three
axes of the airplane
Figure 9-10 p. 256
Six component wind tunnel balance
this balance measures forces by use of strain
gauges

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Types of Wind Tunnel Tests

Pressure Tests
Insert tiny tubes into the model surface or
airstream and connect them to a pressure
measuring device
Liquid Manometer-pressure measuring device
Figure 9-11 p. 258
Tiny hole (pressure taps) drilled into the top of the
surface, series of tubes, water added & measured

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Types of Wind Tunnel Tests

Figure 9-12
Lowered pressure over the wing surface reduced
the pressure in the manometer tubes and draws the
water level up to a high level
The lower the pressure, the higher the water level
goes
Measuring the difference in water level will show
the relative pressure difference

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Types of Wind Tunnel Tests

Flow Patterns
Allow the streamlines of air flow to look at the
bodys aerodynamic properties
Tufting allows for the flow pattern visualization
Tufting the attachment of small tufts of yarn
to the surface
The tufts will show if flow is attached or separated
to form a wake
Figure 9-14 p. 260

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Types of Wind Tunnel Tests

Flow pattern
visualized by the use of smoke at the EmbryRiddle smoke tunnel
Figure 9-15 p. 261
Smoke is generated by burning oil; then
injected into into the airstream
Oil flow techniques can also be used to study
flow patterns

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High Speed Wind Tunnels

Supersonic tunnels-1st developed in
Germany, Busemann who also developed
the swept-wing concept
Early supersonic tunnels were the blow
down type at Mach 1
One of the most difficult conditions to
create the flow at exactly Mach 1
Figure 9-16, 9-17 p. 262-263

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Shock Wave Visualization

Shock Waves are made visible by light
refraction called the Schlieren method (ch7)
Figure 9-19 p. 265

Figure 7-3 p. 192 Schlieren photograph

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Wind Tunnel Testing Problems

Wall Effect
Walls are artificial boundaries that airplanes do
not have
Upwash/downwash from walls, floors, ceiling

Scale Effect
Small models have small forces making
measurements inaccurate
Differences in Reynolds number between
model and the full-scale model

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Flight Testing
Shakedown Tests
Basic flight qualities are determined

Airplanes Performance
An exact determination of top speed, cruise
speed, range, rate of climb, takeoff & landing
distance

Stability & Controllability

Exact degree of stability, handling qualities

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Flight Testing
Performance
Special instruments take measurements in test flights
Figure 9-22, 9-23 p. 270

Pressure Measurements
Attaching pressure measuring devices to taps on the
aircraft surface
Figure 9-20 p. 268

Flow visualization
Tufts similar to wind tunnel testing
Reveal poor aerodynamic characteristics
Figure 9-21 p. 269

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Quiz on Chapter 9
Please take out a sheet of paper
Include todays date and your name

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Quiz on Chapter 9
Compare and contrast wind tunnel testing
and flight testing.

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