73198 - Experimental Methods in Aerodynamics

Learning outcomes

The student becomes familiar with the main experimental measurement techniques and aerodynamic apparatus. He/she also approaches modern and advanced experimental techniques for the analysis of wall bounded turbulent flows. By applying these concepts he/she is capable of designing an experiment, acquiring and processing the data and validating the results by means of an uncertainty analysis.

Course contents

- Introduction: role of experiments in aerodynamics;

- The measurement chain:
   sensor-transducers-data acquisition;
   Sampling frequency and sampling time

- Error and uncertainty analysis: 
  Bias and systematic error;
  Central limit theorem;

- Dimensional analysis:
  Non-dimensional parameters;
  The PI-theorem;

- Pressure measurements

- Hot-wire measurements

- Force measurements

- Optical methods: 

  LDV
  PIV

- Wind Tunnels design and evaluation

- Data processing

Readings/Bibliography

1. Teacher's slides and notes avaliable on e-learning platform

Coursebook: Instrumentation, Measurements, and Experiments in Fluids – second edition, Ethirajan Rathakrishnan, CRC Press

 

Suggested literature: 

•The Pi-Theorem – applications to Fluid Mechanics,
L.P. Yann; (2012)

•Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Testing, Jewel B. Barlow

Teaching methods

Lectures held by the teacher where the subjects are indroduced and discussed by the teacher; 

Data analysis exercises requiring a laptop and Matlab;

Seminars held by international lecurers on advanced experimental and numerical techniques;

Visit to the experimental fluid mechanics laboratory and wind-tunnel measurements;

Assessment methods

The examination is mainly an oral with 2 or 3 questions on the different subjects covered in class (including seminars). For each question, the student will be given some time to wirte down the main points to be discussed with the teacher. 

The student is expected to clearly explain all the relevant aspect of the experimental or analysis techniques, including physical principles behind the measurement technique, all the mathematical aspects discussed in class, and the technical issues connected to  the application.

 

Teaching tools

PPT slides, whiteboard, Matlab. 

 

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Bellani