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At least 109 records · Page 6

Progress in wind tunnel wall interference assessment/correction procedures at the NAE

Wall corrections as a function of wall porosity in the transonic wall interference problem was assessed. Effective porosities primarily for the two dimensional case were established as follows: (1) comparison of experimental data for two geometrically similar models of different chord/height ratio, an overall value of wall porosity could be deduced; (2) theoretical development which allows for unequal porosity for the floor and ceiling and wall boundary pressure measurements, porosities for floor and ceiling could be deduced; (3) a scheme was developed which allowed unequal porosity of floor and ceiling and streamwise varying porosity. The boundary layer development along the perforated floor and ceiling under the influence of the model pressure field, variations in boundary layer thickness underlining the difficulties in deducing meaningful values of wall porosity were determined. Wall boundary pressure measurement, in combination with singularity modelling of the airfoil, was sufficient to yield required information on the wall interference flow without having to establish some value for wall porosity. The singularity modelling of the airfoil initially covered only lift and volume but was extended to include drag and pitching moment, and second order volume term. It is shown by asymptotic transonic small disturbance analysis, that the derived corrections to angle of attack and free stream Mach number are correct to the first order.

Ohman, L. H.↗

Wind tunnel wall interference correction for aircraft models

Wall interference correction procedures seek to determine the required changes in certain flow or geometric parameters so that the difference between the flow properties at the model's surface in the tunnel and free air are minimized. A transonic and a linear correction procedure were developed for aircraft models. In addition to Mach number and angle of attack corrections, an estimate of the accuracy of the corrections is provided by the transonic correction procedure. Lift, pitching moment and pressure measurements near the tunnel walls are required. The efficiency and accuracy of the correction procedure are improved. Moreover, correction of both the wing and tail angles of attack is allowed. The procedure is valid for transonic as well as subcritical flows. However, for subcritical flows further approximations and simplifying assumptions are made, leading to a very simple and efficient correction procedure.

Rizk, M. H.↗

Modelling of wind tunnel wall effects on the radiation characteristics of acoustic sources

It is pointed out that the relatively high fuel economy available from propeller-driven aircraft has renewed interest in high speed, highly loaded multiple blade turboprop propulsion systems. Undesirable features related to community noise and the high intensity cabin noise have stimulated new research on the acoustic characteristics of turboprops. The present investigation has the objective to develop a mathematical model of the essential features of the radiation of acoustic disturbances from propellers in a duct and in free space in order to quantify the success with which duct testing can be expected to approximate free field conditions. In connection with the importance of source directionality, a detailed model is considered which consists of a finite element representation of the Gutin propeller theory valid in both the near and far field.

Eversman, W.↗

Theoretical and Experimental Studies of the Transonic Flow Field and Associated Boundary Conditions near a Longitudinally-Slotted Wind-Tunnel Wall

A theoretical examination of the slotted-wall flow field is conducted to determine the appropriate wall pressure drop (or boundary condition) equation. This analysis improves the understanding of the fluid physics of these types of flow fields and helps in evaluating the uncertainties and limitations existing in previous mathematical developments. It is shown that the resulting slotted-wall boundary condition contains contributions from the airfoil-induced streamline curvature and the non-linear, quadratic, slot crossflow in addition to an often neglected linear term which results from viscous shearing in the slot. Existing and newly acquired experimental data are examined in the light of this formulation and theoretical developments.

Everhart, Joel Lee↗

A procedure based on the Euler equations for correcting transonic wind tunnel wall interference

Based on an optimization formulation, a procedure has been developed to evaluate Mach number and angle-of-attack corrections. The Euler equations are assumed to be the flow governing equations. To obtain efficient solutions for the optimization problem, the iterative solutions for the flow variables and the design parameters are simultaneously updated. In addition to the model lift and geometry, the procedure requires pressure measurements near the tunnel walls. The accuracy and efficiency of several optimization techniques are investigated. The effect of perturbing certain test conditions on the residual interference is investigated.

Rizk, Magdi H.↗

Two-dimensional wind-tunnel wall interference

An examination is conducted of two approximate methods for estimating the correction due to upstream flow inclination effects considered in Kemp's (1979) method; the methods are (1) an image vortex in the contraction, and (2) a rotation of streamlines passing through the test section upstream end. The magnitude of the corrections predicted by the two methods is different. The method based on the rotation of streamlines is noted to be in closer agreement with the results of the more refined calculations.

Murthy, A. V.↗

The theory of wind-tunnel wall interference

This report outlines the development of a general theory for the calculation of the effect of the boundaries of the air stream on the flow past an airfoil. Analytical treatments are given for tunnels with horizontal boundaries only, with vertical boundaries only, and with a bottom boundary only. Formulas are developed for the tunnel wall interference in each case for an airfoil located at the center of the tunnel. The correction is given as a function of the width to height ratio of the tunnel. The formulas are exact for infinitely small airfoils only, but give good approximation for spans up to about three-quarters of the tunnel width.

Theodorsen, Theodore↗

Low-frequency rotational noise in closed-test-section wind tunnels

The effects of closed-section wind-tunnel walls on the sound field radiated from a helicopter rotor are investigated by means of numerical simulations, summarizing the findings reported by Mosher (1986). The techniques used to model the rotor and the test section (including geometry, wall absorption, and measurement location) are outlined, and the results are presented in extensive tables and graphs. It is found that first-harmonic acoustic measurements obtained in a hard-walled wind tunnel twice as wide as the rotor diameter do not accurately represent the free-field rotational noise, that the relationship between the sound-pressure levels in the wind tunnel and in the free field is complex, that multiple near-field measurements are needed to characterize the direct acoustic field of the rotor, and that absorptive linings are of little value in enlarging the accurate-measurement zone.

Mosher, Marianne↗