Aerodynamic behavior of a slender slot in a wind tunnel wall

A theoretical model for the flow through a single slot of finite length in a wall separating a uniform freestream and a quiescent fluid at different static pressures is constructed. This problem is relevant to understanding the aerodynamic behavior of slots which are used in the test sections of some ventilated wall transonic wind tunnels. The theoretical relationship which is obtained between the pressure differential across the slot and the flow through the slot shows both the linear and quadratic regimes observed in experiments. The linear behavior arises from the acceleration of the cross flow into the slot downstream of the leading edge and from the interaction of streamwise stations along the slot, as well as from the effect of slot taper. Analytical solutions are obtained for two slot planform shapes, and some other cases are solved numerically. The quantitative agreement with experimental data is very encouraging. © American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., 1981. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Donald B. Bliss Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...