European Transonic Windtunnel Research Articles

Recent experience in the prediction and assessment of windtunnel wall interference

AbstractRecent experience in the prediction and assessment of windtunnel wall interference is reviewed. Three areas of development are identified. The first deals with the influence of wall boundary layers on wall-induced velocities in solid-wall windtunnels; the second is concerned with preparations for determining wall interference in the European Transonic Windtunnel and the third relates to recent studies aimed at providing the basis for correcting data to free-air conditions.

Buffeting tests in a cryogenic windtunnel

SummaryMeasurements of wing buffeting, using root strain gauges, were made in the Nasa Langley 0-3 m cryogenic windtunnel to refine techniques which will be used in larger cryogenic facilities such as the United States National Transonic Facility (NTF) and the European Transonic Windtunnel (ETW). The questions addressed included the relative importance variations in frequency parameter and Reynolds number, the choice of model material (considering both stiffness and damping) and the effects of static aeroelastic distortion.The main series of tests was made on three half models of slender 65° delta wings with a sharp leading edge. The three delta wings had the same planform but widely differing bending stiffnesses and frequencies (obtained by varying both the material and the thickness of the wings). It was known that the steady flow on this configuration would be insensitive to variations in Reynolds number. On this wing at vortex breakdown the spectrum of the unsteady excitation is unusual, having a sharp peak at particular frequency parameter.Additional tests were made on one unswept half-wing of aspect ratio 1·5 with an NPL 9510 aerofoil section, known to be sensitive to variations in Reynolds number at transonic speeds. The test Mach numbers were M = 0·21 and 0·35 for the delta wings and to M = 0·30 for the unswept wing. On this wing the unsteady excitation spectrum is fairly flat (as on most wings). Hence correct representation of the frequency parameter is not particularly important.

Mechanical Completion on Schedule at European Transonic Windtunnel

FOSTER Wheeler Energy Ltd. and Air Products (UK) Limited, in a joint project led by Foster Wheeler, have mechanically completed their £28 million contract for the Nitrogen and Dry Air systems on the DM 666 million European Transonic Windtunnel (ETW), now nearing the end of its construction phase in Cologne.

Royal Visitors at the World's Most Modern Windtunnel

The visit to the new European Transonic Windtunnel (ETW) in Cologne by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh, during their State Visit to Germany in October 1992 points out the four participating governments — Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The Royal couple inspected the facility and met many of those (including contractors' representatives) who had contributed to ETW's planning and development.

Eight channel pressure measuring system for cryogenic use in the European Transonic Wind-tunnel over the temperature range 78 – 300 K

After three years' development of cold-electronic systems at the University of Southampton, a prototype eight channel (four pressure, four temperature) computer controlled data logger with 16 bit A/D converter and optical fibre lead-out has been constructed, all operating at temperatures between 300 and 78 K with a precision of +0.05%.

European Transonic Windtunnel Project

FOSTER Wheeler Energy and Air Products, in a joint venture, have been awarded a contract for the Nitrogen and Dry Air systems for the European Transonic Windtunnel (ETW), now under construction in Cologne. The total cost of the Nitrogen and Dry Air systems is anticipated to be around DM.55 million (£18.9m.).

The European transonic wind-tunnel ETW: A cryogenic solution

The history of the European Transonic Wind-tunnel is briefly described.After a discussion of the tunnel specifications and performance, a general description of the facility is provided.The results of an investigation into the expected future use of the tunnel are summarised.Information on the pilot tunnel PETW is presented, as well as some results on flow quality obtained in an aerodynamic test rig.Finally, some reference is made to a supporting programme on cryogenic technology.