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Effects of surface flow visualisation on aerodynamic loads at low Reynolds number

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2016

R. Waghela
Affiliation:
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, USA
E. M. Botero
Affiliation:
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, USA

Abstract

In this article, the effect of on-surface flow visualisation (SVF) techniques on measured loads over an airfoil are explored. Titanium dioxide based mixture effects on the lift and drag coefficient are experimentally quantified at low Reynolds numbers by recording the time history as the patterns evolve and freeze. With statistical comparison based on Student’s t-distribution method, it was determined that the effect on the drag coefficient was minimal but the lift coefficient was slightly attenuated. Additionally, it was observed that at high angles-of-attack the temporal history of the flow as the wind tunnel ramps up may alter the steady-state flow field in the presence of a SFV mixture.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2015

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