A series of experimental tests gathering various types of data is being conducted to better understand how air flows on and around the surface of an axisymmetric hill named “FAITH” (Fundamental Aeronautics Investigates The Hill). In this image, the model is covered with an oil that shows flow patterns over the surface. The data sets will be used to develop and validate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods. This work is being conducted by the Experimental Aero-Physics Branch at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., and it is supported by the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program.
Image credit: NASA Ames Research Center