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Laboratory two: Flight Demonstration Wind Tunnel Equipment used: The equipment we used to demonstrate our lab consisted of the AF41 wind tunnel and the AFA10 smoke generator. Both this pieces of equipment were bought by the university from the company 'Tecquipment'. Tecquipment specialises in the design and production of scientific experimental equipment for a huge range of disciplines, including aerospace engineering. The company's product range specially designs there equipment for the use of teaching which allows students to understand complex subjects that are not always available for demonstration. AF41 flight demonstration wind tunnel: The tecquipent simulator consists of a housed model fixed wing aeroplane that is supported by linkages that allow it to be fully adjustable in the vertical axis and able to pitch around the quarter chord point. The simulator allows the user to simulate take off, level flight, cruising and landing. It is limited in the vertical axis, being unable to yaw or roll using the horizontal axis. On the controls of the wind tunnel there is an electronic display informing the user of the air speed, angle of attack, pressure (Pitot tube) and lift. Each of these variables are fully adjustable and can be tested. Due to the flight simulator using bright background colours and a solid black model colour it allows easy visualisation of the phenomenon of boundary layer separation.
The wind tunnel is an open circuit wind tunnel meaning the internal environment cannot be controlled and the air used is not recycled. The equipment needs only one operator if set
up correctly and the controls are all directly in front of the model so you can watch the effects of adjusting the variables. Smoke generator (AFA10): In addition to the flight simulator our university was kind enough to buy a smoke generator. This consists of a control unit that heats and pumps oil out the probe producing a consistent smooth spray of smoke. The smoke trail can be adjusted in strength to suit the application needed. The main benefit for using a smoke generator is it allows us to see how air flows over an aircraft as a result of changing various different variables.
The company Tequipment also claim the probe is shaped as it is to minimise wake generation.
Purpose and objective of the lab: The purpose of our lab was to investigate the theory of boundary layer separation and to study how changing velocities affected the pressure measured and the change in Reynolds number. We also intended to carry out tests to see how changing the angle of attack influenced the amount of lift generated.