A nozzle to expand the 15in. x 15in. Arizona Supersonic Wind Tunnel into the Subsonic and Transonic Regime
Abstract
Funding is requested for a converging (sonic) nozzle to extend the operational envelope of the 15in x 15in Arizona Supersonic Wind Tunnel (ASWT) to compressible subsonic and transonic conditions (Mach 0.3-1.2). A removeable transonic test section has recently been funded by the DoD HBCU/MI program, but a nozzle is required to enable actual operation in the subsonic and transonic regimes. The long-term vision for ASWT is to become a polysonic tunnel (subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic) making it the largest polysonic facility (APWT) operated at a U.S. university. A large university operated compressible subsonic and transonic facility is highly relevant to Air Force, Army and Navy needs due to the prevalence of such flows on rotorcraft, projectiles, fixed wing aircraft and turbomachinery, among others. Transonic aerodynamics, in particular, can be more challenging than subsonic and supersonic flows individually, and in some cases, even more so than hypersonic. This is because transonic flows contain a mixture of subsonic and supersonic behavior making accurate model predictions very demanding. Even the design of transonic wind tunnels (let alone the execution of actual transonic experiments) is difficult. This has resulted in a dearth of both fundamental knowledge and facilities particularly at universities. This is unfortunate since many important systems operate in the compressible subsonic and transonic regimes (e.g. rotorcraft, projectiles, fixed wing aircraft and turbomachinery). The acquisition of this equipment will allow the University of Arizona to further its leadership in aerodynamics through research and education of scientists and engineers with expertise in compressible subsonic and transonic flows.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 27, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210030
Entities
People
- Jesse C. Little
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Arizona