Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Major
Aerospace Engineering
Research Advisor
Vigano, Davide
Advisor's Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Funding Source
Start-Up; Dean's Undergraduate Research Scholar Award
Abstract
Supersonic wind tunnels are essential for high-speed aerodynamics research, allowing studies ranging from fundamental flow physics to the advancement of supersonic transport. This work presents a physics-based model developed for the Missouri S& T supersonic wind tunnel, a blow-down facility employing a converging-diverging nozzle to achieve high-speed flow. The model accounts for real gas effects, including Joule-Thomson phenomena, as well as predictions of pressure losses and heat transfer. Implemented in Matlab, the model's accuracy was validated through comparison with experimental measurements, demonstrating excellent agreement. This research contributes to the reliable prediction of supersonic wind tunnel performance, thus advancing the understanding and development of high-speed aerodynamic systems.
Biography
Noah Cain is a current Senior in Aerospace Engineering who will be graduating in the spring of 2024. He has been performing research on the MST supersonic wind tunnel under the advisership of Dr. Davide Vigano in the Aerodynamics Research Laboratory since the summer of 2023.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Innovation Forum - 1st Floor Innovation Lab
Presentation Date
10 April 2024, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Supersonic Wind Tunnel Modeling
Innovation Forum - 1st Floor Innovation Lab
Supersonic wind tunnels are essential for high-speed aerodynamics research, allowing studies ranging from fundamental flow physics to the advancement of supersonic transport. This work presents a physics-based model developed for the Missouri S& T supersonic wind tunnel, a blow-down facility employing a converging-diverging nozzle to achieve high-speed flow. The model accounts for real gas effects, including Joule-Thomson phenomena, as well as predictions of pressure losses and heat transfer. Implemented in Matlab, the model's accuracy was validated through comparison with experimental measurements, demonstrating excellent agreement. This research contributes to the reliable prediction of supersonic wind tunnel performance, thus advancing the understanding and development of high-speed aerodynamic systems.
