Method for applying turbulators to wind tunnel models
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorClark B. Foster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for forming turbulators on scale model airplanes used in wind tunnel testing for accurately simulating a transition point on the model surface equivalent to that produced on the full scale airplane. The transition point is where the boundary layer airflow goes from a laminar airflow condition to a turbulent airflow condition. The method relates to applying a perforated tape mask (14) to the model surface (12) at a predetermined location and filling the perforations (15) with a fast cure epoxy (17). After the epoxy has cure hardened, the tape mask (14) is peeled off in the direction of the arrow (16), leaving a series of in situ formed disk turbulators (10) which function to produce the transition point on the model surface.
Claims6
A method for forming turbulators in situ on the surface of a scale model airfoil used in wind tunnel testing, comprising the steps of:
- forming a mold by applying an adhesive backed tape stencil having a series of circular apertures, to a predetermined location on said airfoil;
- filling the apertures in said tape stencil with an epoxy resin;
- leveling the epoxy resin with the surface of said tape stencil;
- cure hardening said epoxy resin;
- removing said tape stencil from said airfoil and leaving in situ formed epoxy disk turbulators on said airfoil;
- predetermining a thickness of said tape stencil for substantially producing a height of the epoxy disk turbulators which protrudes into free airstream flow in the wind tunnel during testing of said scale model airfoil for producing a transition point on said airfoil.
A method for forming turbulators on an aerodynamic scale model used in wind tunnel testing to simulate a transition point of laminar to turbulent airflow occurring on a full scale aerodynamic craft, comprising the steps of:
- forming a mold by applying a tape mask having a series of circular perforations, to a predetermined location on said model;
- filling the series of circular perforations in said tape mask with a cure hardening epoxy resin liquid;
- removing excess epoxy resin to precisely limit epoxy filled perforations to a surface level of said tape mask;
- cure hardening said epoxy resin;
- peeling off said tape mask after the epoxy resin has cure hardened and leaving a series of in situ formed epoxy disk turbulators on said model;
- predetermining a thickness of said tape mask for substantially producing a height of epoxy disk turbulators which protrude into free airstream flow and function to produce a transition point on the surface of said model during wind testing thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.