CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

Turbulence in the Wake of a Thin Airfoil at Low Speeds

Citation

Campbell, George Stuart (1956) Turbulence in the Wake of a Thin Airfoil at Low Speeds. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/T35K-QF86. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03192004-142218

Abstract

Experiments have been made to determine the nature of turbulence in the wake of a two-dimensional airfoil at low speeds. The experiments were motivated by the need for data which can be used for analysis of the tail-buffeting problem in aircraft design. Turbulent intensity and power spectra of the velocity fluctuations were measured at a Reynolds number 1.6 x 10[superscript 5] for several angles of attack. Total-head measurements were also obtained in an attempt to relate steady and fluctuating wake properties. Mean-square downwash was found to have nearly the same dependence on vertical position in the wake as that shown by total-head loss. For this particular wing, turbulent intensity, integrated across the wake, increased roughly as the 3 /2 power of the drag coefficient. Power-spectrum measurements indicated a decrease in frequency as wing angle of attack was increased. The average frequency in the wake was proportional to the ratio of mean wake velocity to wake width.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Aeronautics and Mathematics)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Aeronautics
Minor Option:Mathematics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Liepmann, Hans Wolfgang
Group:GALCIT
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:1 January 1956
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-03192004-142218
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-03192004-142218
DOI:10.7907/T35K-QF86
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:1005
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:19 Mar 2004
Last Modified:13 Jul 2023 17:14

Thesis Files

[img]
Preview
PDF (Campbell_gs_1956.pdf) - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

2MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page