Estimation of Wind Tunnel Corrections Using Potential Models

Abstract

The evaluation of the tunnel correction remains an actual problem, especially for the effect of tunnel walls. Even if the experimental campaign meets the basic similitude criteria (Mach, Reynolds etc.), the wall effect on the measured data is always present. Consequently, the flow correction due the limited by walls must be evaluated. Solid wall corrections refer to the aerodynamic interference between the experimental model and the walls of the wind tunnel. This interaction affects the measured forces and implicitly the angle of attack. Usually, these effects are introduced through semi-empirical correction factors which change the global measured forces. The present paper refers to the mathematical and numerical modeling of aerodynamic interferences between the experimental model and the solid walls based on the potential flow model. The main goal is to asses a method allowing an estimate of the corrections for each configuration with a minimum computational resource.