Blockage effect induced by an airfoil model in the low-velocity wind tunnel test section
V.I. Kornilov, A.N. Popkov
Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Keywords: airfoil, blockage, wind tunnel, pressure, aerodynamic characteristics
Abstract
The results of computational and experimental studies of the flow around a symmetric airfoil with a relative thickness of 12% in the free stream and in a low-velocity wind tunnel with a closed test section are presented. The experiments are performed for the Reynolds number Rec = 0.7·106-2·107 and angles of attack a = -12°¸ 12°. The problem is numerically solved in a 2D formulation by using the ANSYS Fluent software package. The mathematical model of the flow includes steady Reynolds equations closed by different turbulence models, including the k-w SST model, which is a superposition of the k - e and k-w models. A significant effect of blockage of the wind tunnel test section with limited dimensions by the airfoil on the flow character and aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil even if the block-age coefficient is only 5.7% is demonstrated.
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