Calibration of the Naval Postgraduate School 3.5 x 5.0 academic wind tunnel

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to revitalize the Naval Postgraduate School's 3.5' x 5.0' academic wind tunnel. The wind tunnel had sustained previous damage to one of two sets of counter-rotating blades. Because of this change in configuration, a wind tunnel calibration was deemed necessary. Along with the calibration a digital data acquisition system was designed and implemented to aid in the data collection, storage and analysis for this project and future projects, using this wind tunnel. The test section airspeed calibration data contained a substantial amount of scatter indicating flow straighteners may be required. The wind tunnel turbulence intensity was found to be relatively low considering the configuration change and is expected to reach an acceptable level (less than 0.3 percent) with the planned installation of turbulence screens in the settling chamber.