Wind tunnel velocity profiles generated by differentially-spaced flat plates

摘要

Production of linear shear with low turbulence level in a wind tunnel provides a convenient environment for testing the results of computational fluid dynamics simulations and equipment calibration. Boundary layer flow over a flat plate at zero incidence provides controlled deceleration of the approach flow according to plate length, with interacting boundary layers between adjoining flat plates merging to provide fully developed duct flow. In this way, an array of differentially-spaced flat plates can be used to modify a uniform wind tunnel velocity field to a specified velocity profile. A one-step iterative scheme is offered to determine plate spacings for simulation of weakly sheared flows, constrained by zero vertical pressure gradient in the downstream flow (representative of boundary layer conditions). The scheme is tested for realization of uniform shear flow (maximum velocity variation plus or minus 10% of centreline velocity) by wind tunnel simulation, and produces reasonable results, at least comparable with previous studies.