Big Wind Tunnels - It's Not Everyday

[Loren Booda]

Oh yeah, and the blades in the wind tunnel. I found out they are from a B-29!

Would a more modern propeller cause less turbulence? Might turbine blades otherwise excel in a wind tunnel?

 

[Cyrus]

Would a more modern propeller cause less turbulence? Might turbine blades otherwise excel in a wind tunnel?

For your first point, probably yes. Keep in mind, the blades are twisted slightly from what they would normally be on the B-29 aircraft. I think the tips of the blades are also squared off, as the one in the picture of the aircraft has somewhat round tips. But the tunnel has flow straightners (which you can see in the pictures that looks like honeycomb). All props, no matter how modern, will cause swrill in the air behind them.

Turbine blades don't really push the air behind them like a prop do. It's the hot gasses that accelerate the air out the back. The turbine blades purpose is to compress the air for the fuel to burn with. The high speed air is a result of the combustion. That being said, you don't want hot exhaust gasses inside a tunnel. Then you'd have lots and lots of smoke everywhere.

 

[FredGarvin]

Well, it looks like this program got some press. I posted an article from the only trade magazine I read anymore, Aerospace Testing International. It is an awesome magazine.

http://www.scribd.com/share/upload/12670911/1csxn9hgknr0pp1qjt68

 

[B. Elliott]

Very cool Cyrus. I use to program CNC machines and worked for a company that made aviation and general military parts for the government. I can tell there's probably quite a bit of time in that model.

 

[jtarr]

Hi Fred,

Thanks for posting that article!

 

[Cyrus]

Joslyn you stalker NERD! :)