Abstract
Performance characteristics of an Eppler 387 airfoil using both direct (force) and indirect (pressure) measurement techniques have been obtained at Reynolds numbers from 60,000 to 460,000 in the Langley Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel. Lift, drag, and pitching-moment data were obtained from two internally-mounted strain-gage balances specifically designed for small aerodynamic loads. Comparisons of these results with data from a pressure model of an Eppler 387 airfoil are included. Drag data for both models using the wake traverse method are compared with the balance data. Oil flow visualization and surface mounted hot-film sensors were used to determine laminar-separation and turbulent-reattachment locations. Problems associated with obtaining accurate wind-tunnel data at low Reynolds numbers are discussed.
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Abbreviations
- c:
-
airfoil chord
- c d :
-
section drag coefficient
- c l :
-
section lift coefficient
- c m :
-
section pitching-moment coefficient about quarter-chord point
- l/d :
-
section lift-drag ratio
- Pt :
-
total pressure
- q:
-
dynamic pressure
- R:
-
Reynolds number based on free-stream conditions and airfoil chord
- x:
-
airfoil abscissa
- W:
-
uncertainty in measurement
- α :
-
angle of attack
- EDM:
-
electric discharge machining
- LTPT:
-
Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel
- rms:
-
root mean square
References
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© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg
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McGhee, R.J., Walker, B.S. (1989). Performance Measurements of an Airfoil at Low Reynolds Numbers. In: Mueller, T.J. (eds) Low Reynolds Number Aerodynamics. Lecture Notes in Engineering, vol 54. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84010-4_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84010-4_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-51884-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-84010-4
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