Towards New Transonic Windtunnels

Numerous aspects of transonic aerodynamics include wall interference corrections in conventional wind tunnels, subsonic flow in a variety of wind tunnels, and test results from transonic wind tunnels. 1961 edition.

The existing ARL Transonic Wind Tunnel, which is the largest such tunnel in Australia, has severely limited testing capabilities due to a low test Reynolds number and an inadequate test section size. These deficiencies are becoming more acute as military aircraft performance capabilities increase. For current fighter aircraft, the ratio of tunnel test to flight Reynolds number is about 1:100 and the extrapolation of tunnel data to flight carries a high risk of serious error and for some conditions is not possible at all. The small test section size limits the scale of the models which can be tested. The difficulty of machining small models to the required accuracy produces excessive manufacturing times. Moreover, it is not possible to incorporate remotely adjusted control surfaces. These two factors severely restrict tunnel productivity. Various new types of transonic wind tunnels have been suggested overseas and these are discussed briefly. Configurations suitable for local needs are considered, and the basic specification for an appropriate wind tunnel is provided.

Wind Tunnel Test Techniques: Design and Use at Low and High Speeds with Statistical Engineering Applications provides an up-to-date treatment of the topic. Beginning with a brief history of wind tunnels and its types and uses, the book goes on to cover subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnel design and construction, calibration, boundary corrections, flow quality assessment, pressure surveys, and dynamic testing. It also focuses on wind tunnel facilities, making it useful for both the designer and operator. Engineers and graduate students in aerospace, automotive and similar programs will find this book useful in their work with experimental aerodynamics, gas dynamics, facility design and performance. Deals with a broad range of flow speeds in wind tunnels, from low speed to high speed Provides a discussion of similarity laws as well as material on statistical analysis Includes coverage on facility-to-facility and facility-to-CFD correlation Presents advanced topics such as cryogenic wind tunnels, ground simulation in automotive testing, and propulsion testing

The report, dedicated to Professor Dr Dietrich Kuchemann, includes an Appreciation of Professor Dr Kuchemann, a description of his role in the promotion of new wind tunnels and three papers on: (1) An Investigation of the Quality of the Flow Generated by Three Types of Wind tunnel (Ludwieg Tube, Evans Clean Tunnel and Injector Driven Tunnel); (2) Development of the Cryogenic Tunnel Concept and Application to the US National Transonic Facility; and (3) The Cryogenic Wind tunnel; Another Option for the European Transonic Facility. (Author).