Unsteady Aerodynamics of a Wortmann FX-63-137 Wing in a Fluctuating Wind Field

摘要

An environmental aerodynamic test (EATS) was designed and assembled to investigate the effects of gust and turbulence on the performance of a full-scale Wortmann FX-63-137 wing. Experiments were conducted in the atmospheric boundary layer by directing the elevated wing into the prevailing wind for a range of Reynolds numbers from 80,000 to 450,000. The unsteady wind field, in essence, introduces significant and favorable effects on the aerodynamics in terms of lift overshoot, stall delay, reduction of drag at small angles of attacks, and endurance enhancement. Further analysis of the field data was conducted to investigate the unsteady aerodynamic phenomena, such as the hysteresis loops and the spectra of the aerodynamic forces and the relation to the ambient wind conditions.