Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing

by Barlow, Jewel B.; Rae, William H.; Pope, Alan

• ISBN13: 9780471557746
• ISBN10: 0471557749
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-02-22
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience

Summary

A brand-new edition of the classic guide on low-speed wind tunnel testing While great advances in theoretical and computational methods have been made in recent years, low-speed wind tunnel testing remains essential for obtaining the full range of data needed to guide detailed design decisions for many practical engineering problems. This long-awaited Third Edition of William H. Rae, Jr.'s landmark reference brings together essential information on all aspects of low-speed wind tunnel design, analysis, testing, and instrumentation in one easy-to-use resource. Written by authors who are among the most respected wind tunnel engineers in the world, this edition has been updated to address current topics and applications, and includes coverage of digital electronics, new instrumentation, video and photographic methods, pressure-sensitive paint, and liquid crystal-based measurement methods. The book is organized for quick access to topics of interest, and examines basic test techniques and objectives of modeling and testing aircraft designs in low-speed wind tunnels, as well as applications to fluid motion analysis, automobiles, marine vessels, buildings, bridges, and other structures subject to wind loading. Supplemented with real-world examples throughout, Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing, Third Edition is an indispensable resource for aerospace engineering students and professionals, engineers and researchers in the automotive industries, wind tunnel designers, architects, and others who need to get the most from low-speed wind tunnel technology and experiments in their work.

Author Biography

JEWEL B. BARLOW, PhD, is Director of the University of Maryland’s Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel. He is a former chairman of the Subsonic Aerodynamic Testing Association (SATA). WILLIAM H. RAE, Jr. (deceased) was associate director of the F. K. Kirsten Aeronautical Laboratory at the University of Washington and a charter member of the Subsonic Aerodynamic Testing Association. ALAN POPE is a former director of aerodynamics at Sandia National Laboratory. His other books include High-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing and Wind Tunnel Testing.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
1 Introduction	1	(18)
1.1 Aerodynamics	2	(5)
1.2 Properties of Air and Water	7	(2)
1.3 Flow Similarity	9	(4)
1.4 Incompressible Flow	13	(2)
1.5 Time Dependence of the Solutions	15	(1)
1.6 Aeroacoustics	15	(2)
References and Notes	17	(2)
2 Wind Tunnels	19	(42)
2.1 Important Parameters for Similarity	19	(4)
2.2 Research and Development Programs	23	(2)
2.3 Types of Wind Tunnels	25	(4)
2.4 Aeronautical Wind Tunnels	29	(6)
2.5 Smoke Tunnels	35	(1)
2.6 Automobile Wind Tunnels	35	(3)
2.7 Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnels	38	(2)
2.8 Water Tunnels	40	(1)
2.9 General-Purpose Wind Tunnels	41	(7)
2.10 Environmental Wind Tunnels	48	(10)
References and Notes	58	(3)
3 Wind Tunnel Design	61	(75)
3.1 Overall Aerodynamic Objective	62	(1)
3.2 Basic Decisions	62	(8)
3.3 Power Considerations	70	(7)
3.4 Section Loss Coefficients	77	(22)
3.5 Energy Ratios of Some Typical Circuits	99	(3)
3.6 Fan-Straightener Section	102	(18)
3.7 Return (or Second) Diffuser	120	(1)
3.8 Cooling	121	(2)
3.9 Breather: Vibrations	123	(1)
3.10 Test-Section Flow Quality	123	(2)
3.11 Approach to Flow Improvement	125	(2)
3.12 Drive System	127	(1)
3.13 Wind Tunnel Construction	128	(2)
3.14 Test-Section Inserts	130	(1)
3.15 Safety	131	(1)
References and Notes	132	(4)
4 Pressure, Flow, and Shear Stress Measurements	136	(52)
4.1 Pressure	137	(16)
4.2 Temperature	153	(1)
4.3 Flow Instrumentation	154	(16)
4.4 Boundary Layers and Surface Shear Stress	170	(6)
4.5 Flow Field and Surface Analyses	176	(9)
References and Notes	185	(3)
5 Flow Visualization	188	(30)
5.1 Path-, Streak-, Stream-, and Timelines	189	(2)
5.2 Direct Visualization	191	(1)
5.3 Surface Flow Visualization	192	(15)
5.4 Flow Field Visualization	207	(5)
5.5 Data-Driven Visualization	212	(4)
References and Notes	216	(2)
6 Calibration of the Test Section	218	(16)
6.1 Test-Section Flow Calibration	218	(9)
6.2 Wind Tunnel Boundary Layers	227	(2)
6.3 Acoustics	229	(1)
6.4 Wind Tunnel Data Systems	230	(2)
References and Notes	232	(2)
7 Forces and Moments from Balance Measurements	234	(67)
7.1 Forces, Moments, and Reference Frames	234	(5)
7.2 Balances	239	(5)
7.3 Balance Requirements and Specifications	244	(4)
7.4 External Balances	248	(16)
7.5 Fundamentals of Model Installations	264	(24)
7.6 Internal Balances	288	(11)
References and Notes	299	(2)
8 Use of Wind Tunnel Data: Scale Effects	301	(27)
8.1 Boundary Layer	302	(4)
8.2 Trip Strip	306	(7)
8.3 Drag	313	(4)
8.4 Lift Curve	317	(3)
8.5 Flap Characteristics	320	(2)
8.6 Pitching Moment	322	(1)
8.7 Longitudinal Stability and Control	322	(1)
8.8 Directional Stability and Control	323	(1)
8.9 Lateral Stability and Control	323	(1)
8.10 Correlation of Wind Tunnel to Flight Data	324	(1)
References and Notes	325	(3)
9 Boundary Corrections I: Basics and Two-Dimensional Cases	328	(39)
9.1 Descriptions of Wind Tunnel Flow	330	(5)
9.2 Mathematical Models	335	(11)
9.3 Related Developments	346	(3)
9.4 Bodies Spanning the Tunnel	349	(15)
References and Notes	364	(3)
10 Boundary Corrections II: Three-Dimensional Flow	367	(61)
10.1 Buoyancy	367	(1)
10.2 Solid Blockage	368	(2)
10.3 Wake Blockage	370	(6)
10.4 Streamline Curvature	376	(1)
10.5 General Downwash Corrections	377	(5)
10.6 Lift Distribution Interference	382	(2)
10.7 Downwash Corrections	384	(15)
10.8 Flow behind the Wing	399	(13)
10.9 Summary: Closed Test Section	412	(13)
10.10 Summary: Open Jet	425	(1)
References and Notes	425	(3)
11 Boundary Corrections III: Additional Applications	428	(16)
11.1 Reflection Plane Models	428	(2)
11.2 Swept Wings: Nonuniform Lift	430	(1)
11.3 Control Surface Hinge Moments	431	(1)
11.4 Ground Proximity Effects for Aircraft	431	(2)
11.5 Downwash Corrections: Powered Models	433	(1)
11.6 Boundary Correction: Propellers	433	(2)
11.7 Boundary Effects: V/STOL Experiments	435	(6)
References and Notes	441	(3)
12 Additional Considerations for Aerodynamic Experiments	444	(29)
12.1 Wind Tunnel Experiments	444	(1)
12.2 Uncertainty of Measurements	445	(13)
12.3 Aspects of Design of Experiments	458	(3)
12.4 Model Design and Construction	461	(8)
12.5 Planning the Experiment	469	(1)
12.6 Arranging for Use of Facilities	470	(1)
References and Notes	471	(2)
13 Aircraft and Aircraft Components	473	(90)
13.1 General Test Procedure	473	(4)
13.2 Components	477	(36)
13.3 Complete Configurations	513	(19)
13.4 Power Effects of Propeller Aircraft	532	(12)
13.5 Power Effects of Jet Aircraft	544	(6)
13.6 V/STOL Vehicles	550	(10)
13.7 Reentry Landing Craft	560	(1)
References and Notes	560	(3)
14 Ground Vehicles	563	(46)
14.1 Production Automobiles	566	(5)
14.2 Racing Vehicles	571	(4)
14.3 Trucks, Motorcycles, and Other Vehicles	575	(4)
14.4 Systems for Ground Vehicle Experiments	579	(27)
References and Notes	606	(3)
15 Marine Vehicles	609	(43)
15.1 Surface Vessels: Above the Water	609	(6)
15.2 Surface Vessels: Below the Water	615	(12)
15.3 Underwater Vehicles	627	(3)
15.4 Sailing Vessels	630	(19)
References and Notes	649	(3)
16 Wind Engineering	652	(13)
16.1 Modeling the Atmospheric Surface Wind	653	(6)
16.2 Local Pressures and Panel Loads	659	(1)
16.3 Loads on Complete Structures	660	(1)
16.4 Structures Exhibiting Elastic Motion	661	(3)
References and Notes	664	(1)
17 Small Wind Tunnels	665	(15)
17.1 Tests Least Affected by Reynolds Number	665	(1)
17.2 The Small Wind Tunnel for Instruction	666	(7)
17.3 Low-Reynolds-Number Testing	673	(6)
References and Notes	679	(1)
18 Dynamic Tests	680	(17)
18.1 Spin Characteristics and Spin Recovery	680	(3)
18.2 Dynamic Aeroelastic Experiments	683	(7)
18.3 Store Release or Jettison Experiments	690	(4)
18.4 Parabrake Evaluations	694	(1)
18.5 Cavity Resonance	694	(1)
References and Notes	695	(2)
Appendix 1 Subsonic Aerodynamic Testing Association (SATA)	697	(4)
Appendix 2 Numerical Constants and Unit Conversions	701	(2)
Index	703