After a presentation of the objectives and a brief introduction to methods of
experimental aerodynamics, as well as related issues and limitations in Chaps. 1
and 2, the book devotes a large part to the description of wind tunnels and measurement techniques. It is not a catalogue of existing facilities but a presentation of
some of the most typical wind tunnels in specific fields of application (aeronautics,
space exploration, automobile, railway, energy production, civil engineering, etc.)
predominantly in France, but also in other countries. However, there is no absolute
demarcation between facilities, as “aeronautical” wind tunnel can be also used to
test ground vehicles or wind turbines, for example. Emphasis is placed on the
particular problems encountered during design, production and operation, accordingly with the simulated speeds, ranging from low subsonic to hypersonic. It is
appropriate to distinguish between industrial wind tunnels intended for the development of prototypes, by testing either scaled-down models or full-scale vehicle
itself, and the research wind tunnels devoted to the detailed study of particular
phenomena such as separation, laminar-to-turbulent transition, etc. However, there
may be an overlap between the two types of facilities.
Chapter 3 deals with subsonic wind tunnels, while presenting a wide range of
facilities to cover the needs of aeronautics, automotive and civil engineering
industries, energy production, etc. We are also interested in presenting facilities
dedicated to study the effects of adverse weather conditions such as rain, ice and
snow on ground vehicles or ice accretion on aircraft. Also an extensive survey of
aeroacoustic wind tunnels whose purpose is to characterise the noise generated by
the flow over the overall vehicle or individual parts such as aircraft landing gears,
flap and control surfaces, jet engines, side mirrors or other isolated surfaces.
Transonic wind tunnels in Chap. 4 occupy a strategic place as they are primordial for commercial and business aviation, as well as military aircraft both
manned and unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The transonic regime is also
of interest for turbomachinery and jet engines, and high-speed trains’ tunnel entry.
These facilities are rather limited because of particular design and operation challenges related to the occurrence of complex flow phenomena while operating in the
vicinity of the speed of sound.
Chapter 5 deals with supersonic wind tunnels which cover the needs of
high-speed applications for the design and optimisation of fighter aircraft, missiles
and ammunition and space launchers while flying within the earth’s atmosphere.
Other applications where supersonic regime is encountered are engine intakes while
operating at maximum power, supersonic intakes and nozzles, and other instances
when the flow accelerates rapidly due to large convergences and curvatures.
Hypersonic flows covered in Chap. 6 are of great interest again in military
applications such as for the design of hypervelocity tactical missiles, strategic
missiles and projectiles. In the space launchers and exploration field, this regime is
encountered during the re-entry of vehicles into earth’s atmosphere but also in other
atmospheres such as those of Mars and Venus. Space launchers are also of concern
viii
Preface
experimental aerodynamics, as well as related issues and limitations in Chaps. 1
and 2, the book devotes a large part to the description of wind tunnels and measurement techniques. It is not a catalogue of existing facilities but a presentation of
some of the most typical wind tunnels in specific fields of application (aeronautics,
space exploration, automobile, railway, energy production, civil engineering, etc.)
predominantly in France, but also in other countries. However, there is no absolute
demarcation between facilities, as “aeronautical” wind tunnel can be also used to
test ground vehicles or wind turbines, for example. Emphasis is placed on the
particular problems encountered during design, production and operation, accordingly with the simulated speeds, ranging from low subsonic to hypersonic. It is
appropriate to distinguish between industrial wind tunnels intended for the development of prototypes, by testing either scaled-down models or full-scale vehicle
itself, and the research wind tunnels devoted to the detailed study of particular
phenomena such as separation, laminar-to-turbulent transition, etc. However, there
may be an overlap between the two types of facilities.
Chapter 3 deals with subsonic wind tunnels, while presenting a wide range of
facilities to cover the needs of aeronautics, automotive and civil engineering
industries, energy production, etc. We are also interested in presenting facilities
dedicated to study the effects of adverse weather conditions such as rain, ice and
snow on ground vehicles or ice accretion on aircraft. Also an extensive survey of
aeroacoustic wind tunnels whose purpose is to characterise the noise generated by
the flow over the overall vehicle or individual parts such as aircraft landing gears,
flap and control surfaces, jet engines, side mirrors or other isolated surfaces.
Transonic wind tunnels in Chap. 4 occupy a strategic place as they are primordial for commercial and business aviation, as well as military aircraft both
manned and unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The transonic regime is also
of interest for turbomachinery and jet engines, and high-speed trains’ tunnel entry.
These facilities are rather limited because of particular design and operation challenges related to the occurrence of complex flow phenomena while operating in the
vicinity of the speed of sound.
Chapter 5 deals with supersonic wind tunnels which cover the needs of
high-speed applications for the design and optimisation of fighter aircraft, missiles
and ammunition and space launchers while flying within the earth’s atmosphere.
Other applications where supersonic regime is encountered are engine intakes while
operating at maximum power, supersonic intakes and nozzles, and other instances
when the flow accelerates rapidly due to large convergences and curvatures.
Hypersonic flows covered in Chap. 6 are of great interest again in military
applications such as for the design of hypervelocity tactical missiles, strategic
missiles and projectiles. In the space launchers and exploration field, this regime is
encountered during the re-entry of vehicles into earth’s atmosphere but also in other
atmospheres such as those of Mars and Venus. Space launchers are also of concern
viii
Preface