EPJ Web of Conferences (Jan 2017)

Turbulence intensity measurement in the wind tunnel used for airfoil flutter investigation

  • Šidlof Petr,
  • Antoš Pavel,
  • Šimurda David,
  • Štěpán Martin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201714302107
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 143
p. 02107

Abstract

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The paper reports on hot wire turbulence intensity measurements performed in the entry of a suction-type wind tunnel, used for investigation of flow-induced vibration of airfoils and slender structures. The airfoil is elastically supported with two degrees of freedom (pitch and plunge) in the test section of the wind tunnel with lateral optical access for interferometric measurements, and free to oscillate. The turbulence intensity was measured for velocities up to M = 0.3 i) with the airfoil blocked, ii) with the airfoil self-oscillating. Measurements were performed for a free inlet and further with two different turbulence grids generating increased turbulence intensity levels. For the free inlet and static airfoil, the turbulence intensity lies below 0.4%. The turbulence grids G1 and G2 increase the turbulence level up to 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively. When the airfoil is free to oscillate due to fluid-structure interaction, its motion disturbs the surrounding flow field and increases the measured turbulence intensity levels up to 5%.