Experimental study of dynamic inflow conditions of an actuator disc

The main objective of this master’s thesis is to experimentally investigate the effects of dynamic inflow conditions on the wake of an actuator disc. Dynamic inflow is the unsteady wake in momentum theory. Dynamic inflow can experimentally be generated by a gust generator. During the experiments, in which Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was...

Aerodynamic and Structural Characterisation of a Hinged Folding Wingtip

In the last thirty years, massive improvements in flight operations and aircraft technology were implemented, reaching a 54% reduction in specific fuel consumption [1]. However, during the same period, the aviation market has tripled the number of flights per year with a consequent and direct increase in the emissions of greenhouse gasses. To...

An Experimental Investigation of the Operating Characteristics of a Flameless Combustor

This thesis covers the experimental characterisation of a multi-nozzle research combustor capable of achieving flameless combustion (FC). The combustor is operated with methane as fuel and air as the oxidiser, under an overall lean equivalence ratio ranging from 0.6-0.9. The work focused on designing and applying different experimental...

Meteorite aerodynamics during dark flight: An experimental investigation using a subsonic wind tunnel

The dark flight of the meteorite in the atmosphere complicates the estimation of the impact point on the Earth’s surface. The irregular shape of the meteorite affects the aerodynamic forces during the dark flight, which can influence the trajectory of the meteorite. This further complicates the meteorite recovery. Limited knowledge of the...

PIV Experimental Comparison of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Wake with Theoretical Models

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) operation is characterized by complex and unsteady three-dimensional fluid dynamics, which presents considerable challenges. One of the crucial points to understand is the complex interaction between rotor, inflow, and wake systems. If we can demonstrate its effectiveness in the complex flow/inflow conditions,...

Aerodynamic and Performance Analysis of Ground Spoilers on the Flying V

Optimal design of a lift dumping assembly (LDA) has been found utilizing a gapped spoiler design that consists of two separate surfaces that are placed at 0.06b-0.17b and 0.28b-0.038b spanwise locations. The gapped design allows the cross flow amplified at the hingeline of the inboard spoiler to escape through the middle gap increasing the lift...

Development of a Marker-Based iFEM Optimisation Approach for Aeroelastic Load Characterisation in Gust

In order to assess the span-wise load distribution in an aeroelastic gust encounter, a novel method is developed which makes use of marker-based optical tracking. This allows for the prediction of the elastic force and the computation of the inertial force such that Collar's triangle may be quantified during the encounter through an iFEM...

Bridging Experimental Simulations with Computational Frameworks for Time-Resolved Characterization of Fluid-Structure Interactions

Closure of Collar's triangle represents a complete framework of fluid-structure interactions (FSI) enabling the comprehensive understanding of different design elements compromising aeronautical applications. Experimental methods such as tomographic particle image velocimetry (Tomo-PIV) are proven to provide accurate acquisition opportunities of...

Wing Optimisation for Tractor Propeller Configurations: Validation and Application of Low-Order Numerical Models Adapted to Include Propeller-Induced Velocities

Even though propellers are the oldest form of propulsion, they are still a popular choice for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and passenger aircraft in certain market segments. If the propellers are mounted on the wing, strong propeller-wing interactions alter the aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft. Using low-order numerical models, it is...