Airfoil Testing Facility

The goal of the project is to design a new test apparatus for airfoil analysis. We will create a program that will automate the zero angle of attack (AOA) and provide real time feed back of the lift, drag and moment forces on the airfoil.

=Value Proposition= Currently, using the wind tunnel for airfoil testing at the University of Idaho is a tedious process when it comes to set up and testing. The stand that airfoils are mounted on is antiquated, angle of the foil must be adjusted manually, and the accuracy is not as precise as it could be. The HotWings team is creating an airfoil testing apparatus to fix these issues through automation. Using computer software to adjust the angle of attack as well as calculate lift, drag, and moment forces through data collection. Additionally, it will be easy to set up, break down, and store away for later use by one individual.

Deliverables

 * Operate stepper motor at 1/10 degree precision at low to high speeds.
 * Modular stand design. (i.e. stand can have load cells and stepper motor attached, or just stepper motor attached, or nothing attached.)
 * One person should be able to build and install components of stand and attachments.
 * Design and build airfoil with interfacing adapter for stepper motor and airfoil either build into airfoil or separate device.
 * Need to be able to level the airfoil from a program.

Specifications

 * Build an airfoil to NACA airfoil standards ranging from a 9%-21% thickness.
 * Vibrations cannot contaminate load cell readings, walking past load cell/s will impact readings.
 * We need to design a stand that can possibly support multiple load cells. It absolutely has to have a spot for one load cell.
 * The motor must have smooth rotations.
 * The airfoil must fit inside an 18"X18" plexiglas box.
 * The airfoil must be made out of a robust material.

=Design Considerations=

Stand Designs


This is a stand design for a vertically mounted airfoil.



This is a stand design for a horizontally mounted airfoil.

=Project Learning= When our team was assembled and we knew what our project was, it was very exciting. Air flow is all around us and it is studied all over the globe. From commercial airlines to automobile companies to universities have airflow test facilities. Every application will have different needs and will use different size wind tunnels. We have been charged to create a modular stand for an airfoil inside a relatively small wind tunnel. Our working area section of the wind tunnel is 18" by 18".

One of the initial problems we began to tackle was 3D Modeling of the stand types we were considering and the type of airfoil we should place on it. There are many many ways to mount an airfoil but mainly two ways in which it should be, vertically or horizontally. We went spent time investigating how other universities oriented their airfoils. This allowed us to develop stands that could fit our needs. Literature from the Nation Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was used to ensure we were staying within the standards of testing an airfoil. This literature held equations in which we used for the dimensions of the airfoil we made a 3D model of.

=Final Design=

=Validation=

=Team Members=

=Additional Documentation=

Project Schedule



Meeting Minutes

Presentations



Client Interview