Experimental Investigation of Boundary Layer Separation Influence of Pressure Distribution On Cylinder Surface in Wind Tunnel Armfield C15-10

AUTHORS
CONTENTS
15th International Research/Expert Conference

Trends in the Development of Machinery and Associated Technology
TMT 2011, Prague, Czech Republic, 12-18 September 2011
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF BOUNDARY LAYER

SEPARATION INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION ON
CYLINDER SURFACE IN WIND TUNNEL ARMFIELD C15-10
Nedim Hodi, Rasim Begagi
University of Zenica
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Zenica
Fakultetska 1, 72000 Zenica
Bosnia and Herzegovina
ABSTRACT
Aerodynamics, as branch of fluid mechanics studies relative motion of air around the body from
theoretical and experimental aspect. Those two approaches will not give same results if using
theoretical laws based on ideal process, because experimental investigation is presentation of real
process. Wind tunnel is an instrument that can be used for experimental investigation. Boundary layer
separation influence testing results of cylinder surface pressure distribution, gained by experimental
investigation in wind tunnel ARMFIELD C15-10, are presented in this paper. Obtained experimental
results are compared with theoretical results, and on the basis of that data certain conclusions are
brought.
Keywords: Experimental aerodynamics, wind tunnel, pressure distribution, boundary layer separation,
cylinder
1. INTRODUCTION
Aerodynamics is a branch of fluid mechanics that studies relative motion of air in interaction with
body. It is divided on theoretical and experimental aerodynamics. Theoretical aerodynamics is based
on the laws of fluid mechanics and mechanics of solid body. Experimental aerodynamics is based on
experimental investigations, and one of the ways of experimental investigation is by the help of wind
tunnel. In this paper, using wind tunnel investigation of pressure distribution around cylinder is done,
before comparison of theoretical and experimental results.
2. WIND TUNNEL AND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION ON CYLINDER SURFACE
Wind tunnel is instrument which can be used for experimental investigation of air flow around
different geometrical shapes bodies. In real process the body is moving trough the steady air, but in
wind tunnel model is positioned and air is moving around it. Same effect is accomplished as in real
process taking care about fulfilling specific criteria of dynamical similarity. Figure 1. shows the wind
tunnel ARMFIELD C15-10 on which the testing is executed, [1].
573
AUTHORS
CONTENTS
Figure 1. Wind tunnel ARMFIELD C15-10

Cylinder with smooth surface, of 30 mm diameter and 140 mm length, is selected as testing object in
wind tunnel. Measuring points or tappings are distributed on upper surface of cylinder with 20
spacing, as shown in figure 2.
Figure 2. Position of measuring points on cylinder surface

To complete the testing, cylinder was investigated two times with same air speed, where second time
cylinder was rotated for 180 angle. In that way pressure distribution is gained on lower cylinder
surface. Investigation is done for three different air speeds, i.e. 11.48, 17.13 i 22.88 m/s. Value of
Reynolds number for these air speeds is in range from 2.104 to 5.104.
3. THEORETICAL GROUNDS
In theory, if the cylinder is placed perpendicular to a steady stream of air, air speed on cylinder
surface, with assuming no losses, is
v
cil
= 2v sin ,
where:
...(1)
vcil - speed in point on surface of cylinder, m/s,

- angle between the radius to the measuring point and the free stream flow direction, ,
v - free stream velocity of air, m/s.
Free stream velocity of air in wind tunnel is known data, gained from the sensor on side wall of
working section. This sensor measures the value of dynamic pressure, and air speed is calculated by
the following equation
574
AUTHORS
CONTENTS
2 gh
v=
...(2)
air
where:
g - effect of gravity (g=9,81 m/s2), m/s2,

h - value of dynamic pressure, mmH2O,
air - density of air (air=1,211 kg/m3), kg/m3.
The equation (2) is dimensionally homogeneous if the value h is inserted directly in unit of mmH2O,
because the value of water density (man=water=1000 kg/m3) is left out from this equation. Using
Bernoulli equation, theoretical value of surface pressure at the point on cylinder can be calculated
p+
v 2
2
where:
= p
cil
v cil2
2
...(3)
p - static pressure in wind tunnel working section, Pa,

pcil - surface pressure in point on cylinder, Pa.
The static pressure is calculated as difference between total, in this case atmospheric pressure and
dynamic pressure. Atmospheric pressure is know data, measured using barometer or obtained from the
internet from weather pages. Using equation (1) in equation (3), theoretical pressure distribution on
cylinder surface can be found
p
cil
= p+
v 2
2
1 4 sin 2 .
...(4)
The simplified form of equation (4) is given in equation
2
p = p + kv ,
cil
...(5)
where coefficient k for certain angles is presented in table 1.

Table 1. Values of factor k for diferent angles
Angle
0
20
40
60
80
()
180
200
220
240
260
k
0,5
0,266
-0,326
-1
-1,44
100
280
120
300
140
320
160
340
180
360
-1,44
-1
-0,326
0,266
0,5
4. RESULTS ANALYSIS
Table 2. is representation of experimental results obtained by measuring in wind tunnel and calculated
theoretical results, for air speeds of 11.48 and 22.88 m/s, and figure 3. shows comparison of
theoretical and experimental results for air speed of 17.13 m/s, [2]. Reynolds number is calculated
with following equation
Re =
vd
,
where:
...(6)
d - cylinder diameter, m,
- viscosity for air (=1.8.10-5 Pas), Pas.
575
AUTHORS
CONTENTS
Table 2. The experimental results of pressure distribution around cylinder
Air speed m/s
Static
pressure Pa
Re
11,48
22,88
99920
99683
23182
Upper surface
Point on
cylinder
surface
H1 Pa
H2 Pa
H3 Pa
H4 Pa
H5 Pa
H6 Pa
H7 Pa
H8 Pa
H9 Pa
H10 Pa
46179
Lower surface
Upper surface
Lower surface
Measured
pressure
Predicted
pressure
Measured
pressure
Predicted
pressure
Measured
pressure
Predicted
pressure
Measured
pressure
Predicted
pressure
99999
99965
99881
99801
99807
99813
99806
99813
99812
99804
100000
99963
99868
99760
99690
99690
99760
99868
99963
100000
99819
99818
99816
99817
99819
99811
99806
99886
99965
99998
100000
99963
99868
99760
99690
99690
99760
99868
99963
100000
99991
99852
99506
99193
99220
99229
99228
99216
99203
99182
100000
99852
99476
99049
98770
98770
99049
99476
99852
100000
99216
99200
99204
99226
99236
99221
99206
99533
99860
99991
100000
99852
99476
99049
98770
98770
99049
99476
99852
100000
Figure 3. Diagram for the air speed of 17.13 m/s, with theoretical and experimental curve
5. CONCLUSION
Pressures on cylinder surface obtained by investigation in wind tunnel and those based on theoretical
fundaments with no losses are similar but only in small area of cylinder surface. Changes are occurred
in point of stall, at which separation of boundary layer begins. In practice point of stall position
depends on the value of Reynolds number. For Re<3.105 point of stall occurs in 81 angle, and for
Re>3.105 boundary layer separates at 125, [3]. Since the investigation of pressure distribution is done
for 20 spacing, it is not possible to precisely determine point of stall, but boundary layer separation
can be noticed, and because of that influence theoretical and experimental results dont match.
6. REFERENCES
[1] INSTRUCTION MANUAL C15 WIND TUNNEL, 2008.
[2] Begagi R.: Eksperimentalno ispitivanje strujanja zraka oko tijela razliitih geometrijskih oblika u zranom
tunelu ARMFIELD C15-10, diplomski rad, MFZ, Zenica, 2011.
[3] Pijush K. Kundu, Ira M. Cohen: Fluid Mechanics, Third Edition, 2004.
576

Experimental Investigation of Boundary Layer Separation Influence of Pressure Distribution On Cylinder Surface in Wind Tunnel Armfield C15-10

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Experimental Investigation of Boundary Layer Separation Influence of Pressure Distribution On Cylinder Surface in Wind Tunnel Armfield C15-10

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Experimental Investigation of Boundary Layer Separation Influence of Pressure Distribution On Cylinder Surface in Wind Tunnel Armfield C15-10

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

AUTHORS

15th International Research/Expert Conference

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF BOUNDARY LAYER

Figure 1. Wind tunnel ARMFIELD C15-10

Figure 2. Position of measuring points on cylinder surface

vcil - speed in point on surface of cylinder, m/s,

g - effect of gravity (g=9,81 m/s2), m/s2,

p - static pressure in wind tunnel working section, Pa,

The simplified form of equation (4) is given in equation

where coefficient k for certain angles is presented in table 1.

You might also like