Investigation of errors obtained with reflection-plane mounted models due to end plate tares

Abstract

Because of the great interest in and emphasis on high-speed wind-tunnel tests, it has become increasingly important to provide a support system which affects the tunnel flow and the flow over the model as little as possible. One type of support which is being used a great deal at the present time is the so-called reflection-plane mount. This mount derives its name from the fact that the model consists of only half of the prototype wing or airplane, mounted on its plane of symmetry. Ordinarily the model is mounted next to one of the tunnel walls, but many variations of mounting have been used. A circular end plate may or may not be mounted as a metrical portion of the installation. The purpose of the tests, described in this report, was to determine the interference effects of the tunnel wall or end plate on the model, the interference effects of the model on the end plate, and the true forces acting on the model and end plate. It was also desired to determine the forces acting on the portion of the model in the boundary layer and to determine the effects of gaps between the wing and end plate and between the end plate and tunnel wall.