Schlieren image of the Large-Scale Low-Boom (LSLB) Inlet in the 8- by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel at NASA’s Glenn Research Center.
Home
Quick Facts
Techniques
Capabilities
The development of a well-designed vehicle is not limited to measuring the pressures and forces that are induced on a model. Fundamentally, aerodynamic design requires an understanding of how the air moves around a given shape. Establishing greater knowledge of the fluid motion allows engineers to understand and account for flow effects in their vehicle design.
Flow measurement also includes calibration of facilities such as wind tunnels. Before a model is installed, it is essential to know the quality of the test-section flow in order to properly understand the vehicle’s response to the flow.
