Publications

Aerodynamic and acoustic corrections for a Kevlar-walled anechoic wind tunnel

Devenport, William J.; Burdisso, Ricardo A.; Borgoltz, Aurelien; Ravetta, Patricio; Barone, Matthew F.

The aerodynamic and acoustic performance of a Kevlar-walled anechoic wind tunnel test section has been analyzed. Aerodynamic measurements and panel method calculations were performed on a series of airfoils to reveal the influence of the test section walls, including their porosity and flexibility. A lift interference correction method was developed from first principles which shows consistently high accuracy when measurements are compared to viscous free-flight calculations. Interference corrections are an order of magnitude smaller than those associated with an open jet test section. Blockage corrections are found to be a fraction of those which would be associated with a hard-wall test section of the same size, and are negligible in most cases. New measurements showing the acoustic transparency of the Kevlar and the quality of the anechoic environment in the chambers are presented, along with benchmark trailing edge noise measurements. © 2010 by William J. Devenport, Ricardo A. Burdisso, Aurelien Borgoltz, Patricio Ravetta and Matthew F Barone.