Aerodynamic Testing

Aerodynamic Testing

Aerodynamic testing is to determine the aerodynamic forces and moments (in particular lift, drag, pitching moment) and their behavior as a function of influencing variables, such as the angle of attack or the flow velocity. The aerodynamic forces are a key to understand the efficiency and the flight/driving characteristics of all aerodynamic bodies.

Only in very rare cases can the full-scale object be tested directly in a wind tunnel measurement. In many cases, scaled models, functional models or generic bodies are used. The design of such aerodynamic tests therefore requires the most precise knowledge possible of the relevant phenomena and a great deal of experience.

For aerodynamic testing we mainly use our own wind and water tunnel facilities, but also commercial / industrial facilities either as customers, or in the context of joint research projects or cooperations.

Full scale car in automotive wind tunnel
Aerodynamic testing of a full-scale road vehicle in an industrial wind tunnel.
PoM
Aerodynamic airfoil in the institute wind tunnel "MUB". Near the side walls, so-called "droop noses" can be seen, which serve to reduce the interaction with the wind tunnel side wall. Here, the pressure distribution is measured and the lift coefficient is determined from this. The profile is covered with tufts to recognize the structure of separated regions.
A20-DNW
Aerodynamic testing of a vertical tail in the DNW-LLF wind tunnel. This is a 70%-scale tailplane in the 6m x 8m test section.

Selected References

SEITZ, A., HORN, M., BARKLAGE, A., SCHOLZ, P., BADRYA, C., RADESPIEL, R., Wind Tunnel Verification of Laminar Boundary Layer Control TSSD Concept, AIAA-Paper,, 2022 AIAA Aviation Forum, 27 June–1 July 2022, Chicago, USA

SCHOLZ, P., SINGH, V.M., GEBHARDT, A., LÖFFLER, S., WEISS, J., The Efficiency of Different Flow Control Methods on a Vertical Tail, AIAA 2020-1537, AIAA Scitech 2020, 6.-10, Jan. 2020, Orlando, USA, doi: 10.2514/6.2020-1537

KLEIN, S., SCHOLZ, P., RADESPIEL, R., A two-element high-lift airfoil in disturbed flow conditions, CEAS Aeronautical Journal, Vol.8, Nr.1, S. 79---91, 2017, DOI: 10.1007/s13272-016-0221-4

KLEIN, S., HOPPMANN, D., SCHOLZ, P., RADESPIEL, R., High-lift Airfoil Interacting with a Vortical Disturbance: Wind-Tunnel Measurements, AIAA Journal, Vol. 53, No. 6, pp 1681-1692, 2015, DOI: 10.2514/1.J053441