Wind vs. Wind Tunnel: The Aerodynamics of the Inlet for NASA's New, Very Large, Nonreturn-Flow Facility

Abstract

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is currently modifying the 40- by 80-foot subsonic wind tunnel at Ames Research Center. This modified facility will go a long way toward meeting the projected need for improvements in the capabilities of ground-based aeronautical facilities. A major concern during design development has been the effect of the external wind on the quality (uniformity) of the flow in the test section of the new open-return test circuit. Wind-effects studies on model wind tunnels have developed a relatively complex inlet treatment which should assure good test-section flow quality under most wind conditions. However, the experimental program, coupled with on-site wind measurements, has also demonstrated that even a minimum treatment can ensure adequate testing capabilities in the presence of the prevailing local winds, and that test programs will not be significantly affected.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA118603

Entities

People

  • Kenneth W. Mort
  • William T. Eckert

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Flow
  • Axial Flow
  • Boundary Layer
  • California
  • Diameters
  • Engineering
  • Flow
  • Ground Based
  • Model Tests
  • Models
  • Short Takeoff Aircraft
  • Steady State
  • Subsonic Wind Tunnels
  • Wind
  • Wind Direction
  • Wind Tunnel Tests
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster