Numerical and experimental investigation of flow in an open-type subsonic wind tunnel

Abstract

A numerical and experimental investigation of flow, inside the test section of an open-type subsonic wind tunnel, has been incorporated in the present paper. Experimental data are collected at different selected locations along the wind tunnel length and inside the test section. For detail assessment of the spatial variation of flow variables, numerical analysis is carried out. Boundary conditions have a significant influence on the validation of numerical simulation. A novel approach of system curve generation by experimental analysis of wind tunnel is adopted, instead of using the conventional approach of fan-type boundary condition. Mass flow rate and pressure jump obtained by system curve are utilized for inlet and outlet boundary conditions, respectively. Comparison of numerical and experimental flow fields at the test section suggests maximum error of 9.84% in case of area-weighted average wind velocity along the length of the test section, whereas along the height of the test section a maximum error of 7.75% is observed. Keywords Wind tunnel testing • Numerical simulation • Boundary conditions • Honeycomb and screens • System curve • Flow assessment List of symbols L Length of the honeycomb cell d h Hydraulic diameter of the honeycomb cell CFD Computational fluid dynamics VFD Variable frequency drive