- #1
waealu
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In my current experiment, I am using a wind tunnel to test laminar flow over airfoils of various designs and at various angles of attack. My current dilemma is in deciding how to construct the airfoils. I am looking for a method that is precise and realistic. (At this stage, I am not worried about the cost.) I have narrowed the material possibilities down to three. Following are the three possibilities along with their "pros" and "cons":
1) Styrofoam - It's cheap, however it would be difficult to cut in a precise manner. Also, using Styrofoam doesn't seem like a realistic test.
2) Balsa Wood and Fabric - It's the most difficult of the three methods, however it seems like the most realistic test.
3) Plastic (using a 3D printer) - This is the most precise of the construction methods (I would be able to design the airfoil on a CAD program and print the design), however I am not sure how realistic this is.
Which one of these methods would result in the most accurate and realistic experiment?
1) Styrofoam - It's cheap, however it would be difficult to cut in a precise manner. Also, using Styrofoam doesn't seem like a realistic test.
2) Balsa Wood and Fabric - It's the most difficult of the three methods, however it seems like the most realistic test.
3) Plastic (using a 3D printer) - This is the most precise of the construction methods (I would be able to design the airfoil on a CAD program and print the design), however I am not sure how realistic this is.
Which one of these methods would result in the most accurate and realistic experiment?