A REVIEW OF FLOW QUALITY TESTING METHODS IN WIND TUNNELS

Slavica Ristić

Jovan Isaković

Biljana Ilić

Goran Ocokoljić

Abstract
Flow quality testing in wind tunnels is a very significant activity in experimental aerodynamics. It includes many different methods and uses modern devices. This paper presents the survey of the most significant methods for determining parameters required for flow characterization in the wind tunnel test section, for subsonic and supersonic velocities. The presented survey includes the methods for the determination of Mach number, flow velocity vector, flow angularity, turbulence intensity, Reynolds number, temperature variation, aerodynamic noise intensity and boundary layer.
Besides the basic principles and equipment, each method is illustrated by the results available in the literature or obtained in the aerodynamic laboratories of VTI.
Key words: experimental aerodynamics, wind tunnel, aerodynamic testing, flow visualization, flow velocity, velocity measurement, pressure measurement, noise measurement, turbulence, Mach number, boundary layer.