Method for Acquiring Forces and Pressure Distributions for Rotating Bluff Body Aerodynamics

Abstract

Abstract. Bluff body aerodynamics remains a challenging field of study. Largely due to their blunt trailing edges, numerical simulations of flow characteristics are often difficult to resolve, making it impractical to characterize 3D flow fields across various attitudes. Experimental methods continue to be the most practical approach for flow characterization. This paper showcases the continuous rotation technique (CRT) under quasi-steady flow conditions in a low-speed wind tunnel with the novel integration of a wireless pressure sensor and a tunable load cell. It explores a very practical approach for measuring surface pressure distributions using wireless modules and integrated forces using load cells on rotating bluff bodies. The focus is primarily on showing statistical confidence in measured pressure and loads, serving as a self-validating test case. The test article used is an infinite aspect ratio cylinder subjected to high rotation rates to replicate the Magnus Effect. The surface pressure was measured at a 1-deg resolution over 100 rotations to ascertain the mean and overall uncertainty in the pressure distribution. The tunable load cell architecture was configured for higher sensitivities in the drag and lift directions in tandem with the commercially off-the-shelf 6 DOF load cell. The lift and drag coefficients of a rotating cylinder were determined using both systems simultaneously.