Computational and Experimental Investigation of the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Windsurfing Sail Section
Abstract
In this thesis results of a computational and experimental investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of a sail section used in windsurfing sails are presented. State-of-the-art computational methods (panels, direct boundary layer, viscous-inviscid interaction, Euler, and steady/unsteady Navier-Stokes) were used to predict the aerodynamic loading and stall characteristics. These predictions were found to be in satisfactory agreement with tuft and smoke flow visualization experiments carried out in the Naval Postgraduate School low speed wind tunnel at a Reynolds number of 800,000. Further, all computational work was completed on the Silicon Graphics Indigo workstation to demonstrate that only modest computer facilities will be necessary for these methods to migrate to the field of sail design.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA260887
Entities
People
- Matthew R. Avila
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School