Variable resistance ventilated adaptive wind tunnel walls
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorAlexander J. Krynytzky
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Abstract
An adaptive wind tunnel wall system for minimizing aerodynamic wall interference for slotted or perforated wall test sections. In the present invention, a plurality of continuous or segmented flexible strips may be deflected by a number of actuators to control fluid flow from the test section to a plenum or plena surrounding the test section. The actuators move the continuous or segmented strips toward and away from the slotted or perforated test section walls along the length of the test section to easily change wall crossflow resistance.
Claims31
An adaptive wall wind tunnel test section for minimizing fluid flow interference effects at the wall of the tunnel when a test model is located in said test section, said tunnel comprising:
- (a) wall means defining said test section,
- (b) a plenum surrounding said test section,
- (c) ventilation means for providing fluid communication through said test section wall means between said plenum and said test section,
- (d) flexible throttle plate means positioned proximate said ventilation means for controlling fluid flow from said test section to said plenum, said throttle plate means being deflectable from a first position precluding fluid flow from said test section into said plenum to another position permitting said fluid flow from said test section into said plenum, and
- (e) means for deflecting said throttle plate means from said first position to said another position.
An adaptive wall wind tunnel test section for minimizing fluid flow interference effects at the wall of the tunnel when a test model is located in said test section, said tunnel comprising:
- (a) wall means defining said test section,
- (b) a plurality of plena surrounding said test section,
- (c) ventilation means for providing fluid communication through said test section wall means between each plenum and said test section,
- (d) flexible throttle plate means positioned within each plenum for varying the depth of each plenum whereby fluid flow from said test section to said plenum may be controlled, said throttle plate means being deflectable from a first position to another position, and
- (e) means for deflecting said throttle plate means from said first position to said another position.
An adaptive wall wind tunnel test section for minimizing fluid flow interference effects at the wall of the tunnel when a test model is located in said test section, said tunnel comprising:
- (a) wall means defining said test section,
- (b) a plurality of deep slots surrounding said test section,
- (c) ventilation means for providing fluid communication through said test section wall means between each of said slots and said test section,
- (d) flexible throttle plate means positioned within each deep slot for controlling fluid flow from said test section to each deep slot, said throttle plate means being deflectable from a first position precluding fluid flow from said test section into said deep slot to another position permitting said fluid flow from said test section into said deep slot, and
- (e) means for deflecting said throttle plate means from said first position to said another position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.