Wind tunnel with a model arranged therein, particularly a model of an aircraft, for acquiring and evaluating a plurality of measuring data, as well as method

• US 20090320582A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Milde, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/147
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 9/06 Measuring arrangements specially adapted for aerodynamic testing

Abstract

A wind tunnel with a model arranged therein, particularly a model of an aircraft, for acquiring and evaluating a plurality of measuring data, wherein the wind tunnel comprises at least one computer unit and at least one visual display terminal particularly at least one monitor, as well as at least one sensor for acquiring the measuring data. A plurality of measuring data of the wind tunnel, particularly measuring data on flow and/or pressure conditions on the model and/or in the region of the model, which data are determinable by the at least one sensor, can be processed in real time and with consideration of geometrical data of the model by the at least one computer unit and visualized on the at least one visual display terminal during a wind tunnel measurement.

Claims

1. A wind tunnel with a model of an aircraft arranged therein for acquiring and evaluating a plurality of measuring data, the wind tunnel comprising:

at least one computer unit; and

at least one visual display terminal; and

at least one sensor for acquiring the measuring data,

wherein the plurality of measuring data of the wind tunnel, comprises measuring data on flow and/or pressure conditions on the model and/or in the region of the model, wherein the measuring data is determinable by the at least one sensor, is processable in real time and with consideration of geometrical data of the model by the at least one computer unit during an ongoing wind tunnel measurement and is visualizable on the at least one visual display terminal during a wind tunnel measurement, and

wherein the position in space of at least one sensor is variable by at least one positioning device in dependence on the measuring data and under the control of the computer unit.

2. The wind tunnel of claim 1, wherein the measuring data are visualizable on the at least one visual display terminal in the form of a three-dimensional graphic illustration by the at least one computer unit.

3. The wind tunnel of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional graphic illustration, of the measuring data on the at least one visual display terminal is interactively influenceable by a control device.

4. The wind tunnel of claim 1, wherein a position in space of the model is variable by a positioning device in dependence on the measuring data and under the control of the computer unit.

5. The wind tunnel of claim 1, wherein the speed of a driving motor of a fan of the wind tunnel, is influenceable by the computer unit in dependence on the measuring data with the aid of a wind tunnel control system.

6. A method for acquiring and evaluating a plurality of measuring data of a wind tunnel with a model of an aircraft arranged therein, comprising:

transmitting the measuring data of the wind tunnel that is acquired by at least one sensor, particularly measuring data on pressure and flow conditions on the model and/or in the region of the model, to at least one computer unit with at least one visual display terminal;

processing the measuring data in real time and with consideration of geometrical data of the model in the at least one computer unit and visualized on the at least one visual display terminal during a wind tunnel measurement; and

varying the position in space of the at least one sensor by at least one positioning device in dependence on the measuring data and under the control of the computer unit and the at least one sensor is positioned in in vortex core regions of an air flow.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the visualization on the at least one visual display terminal is realized in the form of a three-dimensional graphic illustration.

8. The method of claims 6, wherein a position in space of the model is varied by a positioning device in dependence on the measuring data and under the control of the computer unit.