A SURVEY OF V/STOL WIND TUNNEL WALL CORRECTIONS AND TEST TECHNIQUES,
Abstract
A discussion of wind tunnel boundary corrections as they apply to VTOL model testing is presented. Conventional wall correction theory is inadequate since it fails to account for both the presence of a highly developed wake and the total lift acting on the model. Correction theories that do consider the lift and wake characteristics of VTOL designs give satisfactory results, provided there is no wake distortion due to the interference of tunnel walls. Both the Heyson and Kirkpatrick VTOL boundary correction theories are examined and their limitations discussed. A comparison of free air and tunnel results for a .165scale North American Aviation Tilt Wing design and a free air study of an early Hamilton Standard XC 142 propeller model are discussed. The propeller data agreed with theoretically predicted values, but discrepancies, particularly in drag force, appeared when the airship North American Aviation data were compared with similar tunnel results. The exact cause of the differences was not determined. The importance of the VTOL model wake is substantiated. Minimum tunnel sizes necessary to avoid wake impingement and disturbance are presented. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0629004
Entities
People
- John W. Olcott
Organizations
- Princeton University