Flow quality analysis of the TA-2 wind tunnel

Abstract

A test campaign to analyse the flow quality of the TA-2 subsonic wind tunnel is under progress. The measurand is the airflow speed. The velocity uniformity and the boundary layer velocity profile at the wind tunnel test section must be known because they impact on the model test results. The measured parameters are static pressure, total pressure, and static temperature. The estimated parameters are density and velocity. The least squares method is used for curve fitting. The uncertainties associated with the measured and estimated parameters are evaluated according to the recommendations of the Metre Convention. The results are presented in such a way as to help the wind tunnel community, including experimentalists and customers, to visualize and to quantify the airflow condition. Data reduction revealed that the airflow velocity decreases from the entrance to the centre of the test section. The boundary layer is thicker at the floor, in comparison with the lateral walls. © 2018 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.