Development of a Low Cost, Rapid Prototype, Lambda Wing-Body Wind Tunnel Model

Hildebrand, R.; Eidson, Robert; Tyler, Charles

doi:10.2514/6.2003-3818

Cited by 27 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Recent studies show that rapid prototyping is emerging for making wind tunnel models [33]. Additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D-printing and selective laser sintering, can produce good results in agreement to the traditional metal models, with significant lower costs and production time [34]- [36]. However, in wind tunnel testing these models are mainly used in combination with a force balance yielding only the overall drag and lift coefficients.…”

Section: Wind Tunnel Prototype Manufacturingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prototyping of thin shell wind tunnel models to facilitate experimental wind load analysis on curved canopy structures

Colliers

Mollaert

Degroote

et al. 2019

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

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The topologies of membrane and shell structures are not covered by existing wind load Standards and wind tunnel testing should be used to obtain representative wind loads for these structures. However, accurate scale-models of these organically shaped and often open thin structures are complex, time-consuming and expensive to build. To stimulate experimental research on wind load distributions over these structures, this paper illustrates a prototyping methodology for double curved thin shell wind tunnel models with integrated pressure sensors. The production process is illustrated for a hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure. The obtained wind load distributions are validated with literature for a flat roof and canopy that is made according to the same methodology and for two hyperbolic paraboloid roofs. Results indicate that, compared to conventional wind tunnel models, these thin shell wind tunnel models yield more realistic wind pressure distributions over very thin canopy structures. Finally, Cp-distributions are shown for the hyperbolic paraboloid canopy with the high corner under attack. The production of glass-fibre reinforced composites in a CNC-milled mould is convenient and accurate and facilitates the production of wind tunnel models to be used for wind load measurements on organically shaped thin canopy structures.

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Section: Wind Tunnel Prototype Manufacturingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prototyping of thin shell wind tunnel models to facilitate experimental wind load analysis on curved canopy structures

Colliers

Mollaert

Degroote

et al. 2019

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

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show abstract

“…However, the authors highlighted the potential cost and time reduction of similar techniques. Hildebrand [6] proposed the usage of inner metal supports to improve the structural strength of the model. However, the pressure taps produced with FDM were not properly airtight.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Additively Manufactured Wind Tunnel Models with Integrated Pressure Taps for Vortex Flow Analysis

et al. 2019

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Wind tunnel models are traditionally machined from high-quality metal material; this condition reduces the possibility to test different geometric variations or models as it corresponds to incremental cost. In the last decade, the quality of additive manufacturing techniques has been progressively increasing, while the cost has been decreasing. The utilization of 3D-printing techniques suggests the possibility to improve the cost, time, and flexibility of a wind tunnel model production. Possible disadvantages in terms of quality of the model finishing, stiffness, and geometric accuracy are investigated, to understand if the production technique is capable of providing a suitable test device. Additionally, pressure taps for steady surface pressure measurements are integrated during the printing procedure and the production of complex three-dimensional highly swept wings have been selected as targets. Computational fluid dynamics tools are exploited to confirm the experimental results in accordance with the best practice approaches characterizing flow patterns dominated by leading-edge vortices. The fidelity level of the experimental data for scientific research of the described flow fields is investigated. An insight of the most important guidelines and the possible improvements is provided as well as the main features of the approach.

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“…To realize that wind tunnel models based on RP can endure wind tunnel testing, many fundamental research (Hildebrand et al, 2003, AIAA 2003Adelnia et al, 2006;Heyes and Smith, 2004;Yang et al, 2011) have been carried out. Meanwhile, more studies touching upon practical application are being expanded and making the testing results reliable and accurate for aircraft development (Chua et al, 2010;Daneshmand et al, 2010;Daneshmand et al, 2007;Yan et al, 2009;Chuk and Thomson, 1998;Sun et al, 2011;Springer and Cooper, 1997;Zhou et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and fabrication of an aircraft static aeroelastic model based on rapid prototyping

Wang

Yin

Zhang

et al. 2015

Rapid Prototyping Journal

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Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel method for developing static aeroelastic models based on rapid prototyping for wind tunnel testing. Design/methodology/approach -A metal frame and resin covers are applied to a static aeroelastic wind tunnel model, which uses the difference of metal and resin to achieve desired stiffness distribution by the stiffness similarity principle. The metal frame is made by traditional machining, and resin covers are formed by stereolithgraphy. As demonstrated by wind tunnel testing and stiffness measurement, the novel method of design and fabrication of the static aeroelastic model based on stereolithgraphy is practical and feasible, and, compared with that of the traditional static elastic model, is prospective due to its lower costs and shorter period for its design and production, as well as avoiding additional stiffness caused by outer filler. Findings -This method for developing static aeroelastic wind tunnel model with a metal frame and resin covers is feasible, especially for aeroelastic wind tunnel models with complex external aerodynamic shape, which could be accurately constructed based on rapid prototypes in a shorter time with a much lower cost. The developed static aeroelastic aircraft model with a high aspect ratio shows its stiffness distribution in agreement with the design goals, and it is kept in a good condition through the wind tunnel testing at a Mach number ranging from 0.4 to 0.65. Research limitations/implications -The contact stiffness between the metal frame and resin covers is difficult to calculate accurately even by using finite element analysis; in addition, the manufacturing errors have some effects on the stiffness distribution of aeroelastic models, especially for small-size models. Originality/value -The design, fabrication and ground testing of aircraft static aeroelastic models presented here provide accurate stiffness and shape stimulation in a cheaper and sooner way compared with that of traditional aeroelastic models. The ground stiffness measurement uses the photogrammetry, which can provide quick, and precise, evaluation of the actual stiffness distribution of a static aeroelastic model. This study, therefore, expands the applications of rapid prototyping on wind tunnel model fabrication, especially for the practical static aeroelastic wind tunnel tests.

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Development of a Low Cost, Rapid Prototype, Lambda Wing-Body Wind Tunnel Model

Cited by 27 publications

References 0 publications

Prototyping of thin shell wind tunnel models to facilitate experimental wind load analysis on curved canopy structures

Prototyping of thin shell wind tunnel models to facilitate experimental wind load analysis on curved canopy structures

Investigation of Additively Manufactured Wind Tunnel Models with Integrated Pressure Taps for Vortex Flow Analysis

Design and fabrication of an aircraft static aeroelastic model based on rapid prototyping

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