Rainer Hain, Sebastian Herbst, Christian J. Kähler, Institut für Strömungsmechanik und Aerodynamik, Universität der Bundeswehr München

Low Reynolds number airfoils in large-scale free stream turbulence

Abstract: Micro Air Vehicles are small aircrafts which fly slowly at low altitudes and thus low Reynolds numbers in the atmospheric boundary layer. Disturbances in this low regime are believed to have a significant effect on the aerodynamic performance which is not yet fully understood. This study is investigating a low Reynolds number airfoil (SD7003) in elevated levels of turbulence modeled by means of turbulence grids in the Atmospheric Wind Tunnel Munich. Measurements of surface pressures as well as flow fields yielded by Particle Image Velocimetry will be presented at a Reynolds number of 60,000.