Chapter 13
Computer-Aided Wind Tunnel Test
and Analysis
13.1 Experimental Versus Numerical Analysis
Currently in aeronautics the aims and objectives of wind tunnels experiment are
diverse. It could be purely for optimising the aerodynamic design at the high speeds
(transonic for the transport aircraft) by conceiving efficient wing sections, coupling
the structure and aerodynamics (optimised volume, lighter structure, aeroelastic
behaviour), developing innovative deployable surfaces to achieve high lift at low
speed, controlling the plane’s behaviour (performance, manoeuvrability and flight
envelope) up to maximum lift coefficient and beyond stall. In the field of terrestrial
vehicles, the objectives are to decrease the drag in order to reduce the fuel consumption, to guarantee the stability of the vehicle (response to cross wind) and to increase
interior comfort by reducing aerodynamic noise.
Figure 13.1 synthesises the contributions of flight and wind tunnel tests, and
numerical simulation (CFD), based on their representativeness of the physical phenomena, the determination of aerodynamic forces, the analysis of the flow and the
time cycle of design which could range from several years for the development of a
new prototype to a few minutes for basic CFD computations.
Up to the 70s, theoretical and experimental (Experimental Fluid Dynamics or
EFD) methods were mainly employed to predict the aerodynamic characteristics of a
vehicle. Since then, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has gained in importance
in the aerodynamic prediction due to significant progress in the field of numerical
techniques and computer processors speed. At present, one can think that the contribution of CFD to the aerodynamic design is comparable to that of experiment,
so there is a tendency towards an integration of EFD with CFD to improve design
methods.
Wind tunnel testing has evolved significantly, in particular following the opportunities given by CFD and progress in testing and measurements techniques. So, it
is now essential to establish a strategy for combining CFD and tests in the design
phase of a new aircraft or ground vehicle.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. Chanetz et al., Experimental Aerodynamics,
Springer Tracts in Mechanical Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35562-3_13
273
Computer-Aided Wind Tunnel Test
and Analysis
13.1 Experimental Versus Numerical Analysis
Currently in aeronautics the aims and objectives of wind tunnels experiment are
diverse. It could be purely for optimising the aerodynamic design at the high speeds
(transonic for the transport aircraft) by conceiving efficient wing sections, coupling
the structure and aerodynamics (optimised volume, lighter structure, aeroelastic
behaviour), developing innovative deployable surfaces to achieve high lift at low
speed, controlling the plane’s behaviour (performance, manoeuvrability and flight
envelope) up to maximum lift coefficient and beyond stall. In the field of terrestrial
vehicles, the objectives are to decrease the drag in order to reduce the fuel consumption, to guarantee the stability of the vehicle (response to cross wind) and to increase
interior comfort by reducing aerodynamic noise.
Figure 13.1 synthesises the contributions of flight and wind tunnel tests, and
numerical simulation (CFD), based on their representativeness of the physical phenomena, the determination of aerodynamic forces, the analysis of the flow and the
time cycle of design which could range from several years for the development of a
new prototype to a few minutes for basic CFD computations.
Up to the 70s, theoretical and experimental (Experimental Fluid Dynamics or
EFD) methods were mainly employed to predict the aerodynamic characteristics of a
vehicle. Since then, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has gained in importance
in the aerodynamic prediction due to significant progress in the field of numerical
techniques and computer processors speed. At present, one can think that the contribution of CFD to the aerodynamic design is comparable to that of experiment,
so there is a tendency towards an integration of EFD with CFD to improve design
methods.
Wind tunnel testing has evolved significantly, in particular following the opportunities given by CFD and progress in testing and measurements techniques. So, it
is now essential to establish a strategy for combining CFD and tests in the design
phase of a new aircraft or ground vehicle.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. Chanetz et al., Experimental Aerodynamics,
Springer Tracts in Mechanical Engineering,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35562-3_13
273