Flow quality improvement in a transonic wind tunnel

Abstract

Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012.

An originally designed trisonic wind tunnel was upgraded to improve its performance criterion in the transonic regimes. In this research, the test section was modified according to the operational requirements of the existing transonic wind tunnels. Suitable perforated walls were designed, manufactured and installed. The flow in the test section of the wind tunnel with the new test section walls was surveyed for the empty condition, using specially designed long tube static probe and a rake. The rake was used to survey Mach number distribution in the test section. Finally, a 2D model (NACA 0012) and a 3D standard model for the transonic wind tunnels (AGARD-B) were manufactured and tested at various conditions for the purpose of the integral calibration and validation of the tunnel data. Surface pressure distribution along with the force and moment data compared well with the existing data from other tunnels when operated in similar stream conditions. Keywords: transonic wind tunnel/ perforated wall/ side suction/ standard models/ test section.