Design approach with wind tunnel test data on an RPV laboratory for in-flight aerofoil testing

[摘要] Presently wind tunnels are deployed to collect the majority of the experimental data on aerofoils and on boundary layer investigations, but they have their own disadvantages. Flight testing, especially at higher Reynolds numbers, gives a practical solution to these disadvantages, but has a critical influence on the direct cost of experiments. A design study was carried out to modify an RPV, named "Condor", to demonstrate the potential use of an RPV system for in-flight laminar aerofoil research at a fraction of the cost on a manned aircraft. A wing glove, namely an outsized and removable aerofoil section attached to the wing of the RPV, was designed and built. A wind tunnel/numerical investigation was conducted to evaluate the resulting RPV wing/glove combination. Numerical modelling proved it to be capable of providing flowfield details that pointed out the need for endplates in order to acquire infinite wing aerofoil data over the glove surface. Wind tunnel testing included pressure measurements and surface flow visualization and was most beneficial in the endplates design and in validating the pressure sensing system for future flight testing. The investigation included an effort to measure the pressure distribution produced by simulated ice formations on the glove leading edge. General observations deducted from these results are presented.

[发布机构] University:University of Glasgow

[关键词] Aerospace engineering