Computational modeling of the flow in a wind tunnel

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use a computational technique to simulate the flow in a two-dimensional (2D) wind tunnel where the effect of the solid walls facing the model has been addressed using a porous geometry so that interference arriving at the solid walls are duly damped and a flow suction procedure has been adopted at the side wall to minimize the span-wise effect of the growing side wall boundary layer.

Design/methodology/approach

A CFD procedure based on discretization of the Navier–Stokes equations has been used to model the flow in a rectangular volume with appropriate treatment for solid walls of the confined volume in which the model is placed. The rectangular volume was configured by stacking O-Grid sections in a span-wise direction using geometric growth from the wall. A porous wall condition has been adapted to counter the wall interference signatures and a separate suction procedure has been implemented for reducing the side wall boundary layer effects.

Findings

It has been shown that through such corrective measures, the flow in a wind tunnel can be adequately simulated using computational modeling. Computed results were compared against experimental measurements obtained from IAR (Institute for Aerospace, Canada) and NAL (National Aeronautical Laboratory, Japan) to show that indeed appropriate corrective means may be adapted to reduce the interference effects.

Research limitations/implications

The solutions seemed to converge a lot better using relatively coarser grids which placed the shock locations closer to the experimental values. The finer grids were more stiff to converge and resulted in reversed flow with the two equation k-w model in the region where the intention was to draw out the fluid to thin down the boundary layer. The one equation Spalart–Allmaras model gave better result when porosity and wall suction routines were implemented.

Practical implications

This method could be used by industry to point check the results against certain demanding flow conditions and then used for more routine parametric studies at other conditions. The method would prove to be efficient and economical during early design stages of a configuration.

Originality/value

The method makes use of an O-grid to represent the confined test section and its dual treatment of wall interference and blockage effects through simultaneous application of porosity and boundary layer suction is believed to be quite original.

Citation

Khalid, M., Juhany, K.A. and Hafez, S. (2018), "Computational modeling of the flow in a wind tunnel", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 90 No. 1, pp. 175-185. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-05-2016-0072