The specialists of the aircraft and rocket aerodynamics department of  TsAGI have completed the first cycle of studies in the area of unsteady flow characteristics using a thermal anemometer (allows the scientists to define flow characteristics by measuring heat transfer parameters using sensors) at subsonic and transonic flow speed, TsAGI’s press-service reports.

The work was being carried out in cooperation with Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk) in two aerodynamic wind tunnels of TsAGI — ADT T-128 and ADT T-112. These tests concluded the first stage of implementation of the unique thermoanemometric technique for  studying the surging characteristics of high-speed flows at TsAGI, said in the statement.

“This method and equipment developed by specialists of ITAM SB RAS headed by Professor V.A. Lebiga have already been successfully used in design of domestic and foreign wind tunnels of ITAM SB RAS (Novosibirsk), ETW (Cologne), etc. The technique is based on plotting Kovazhny charts for flow pulsations at high subsonic and transonic speeds and allows the researchers not only to define the levels and spectrum of disturbances, but also to divide pulsation modes into three components — vortex, entropy and acoustic. This comprehensive approach makes it possible to find the disturbance sources, define their nature and location, and take the necessary measures to reduce their impact”, - TsAGI reported.

“The use of thermoanemometric measurement technique in the wind tunnels T-128, T-112 and other TsAGI’s test benches will provide unique information in the area of unsteady flow characteristics. It is particularly important in terms of testing models of laminarized aircraft and models with free laminar-turbulent transition. Eliminating or reducing the intensity of disturbance sources will increase the accuracy and reliability of the obtained weight characteristics of the aircraft models and provide more precise information for verification of computational methods”, - the press-service added.

The joint efforts of TsAGI and ITAM SB RAS in this area will be continued next year. It is planned to transfer the technique, technology and special equipment for such tests to the specialists of  TsAGI. In future the studies of flow’s surging characteristics will be included in the program for certification of the industrial wind tunnels by TsAGI.