Extensions to Maskell’s original correction method, developed over several years, are consolidated and designated ‘Maskell III’. The procedures were applied to dedicated tests on a family of flat-plate wing models in a small, low-speed wind tunnel at NRC. Test conditions included angles of attack from -10° to 110° and models of up to 16% of tunnel area. Off-centre tests were included with model-to-wall distances down to 0.72 chords. Corrected lift and drag data correlated well between models of different sizes and at different offsets from the tunnel centreline. Comparisons are made with corrections using the pressure-signature and two-variable methods, emphasising post-stall conditions. These showed that the ‘Maskell III’ procedures, which require minimal input, correlated as well as the other methods for most model sizes and positions in the tunnel.

This paper presents the development and validation of a parallel unsteady flow and aeroelasticity code for large-scale numerical models used in turbo machinery applications. The work is based on an existing unstructured Navier-Stokes solver developed over the past ten years by the Aeroelasticity Research Group at Imperial College Vibration University Technology Centre. The single-process multiple-data paradigm was adopted for the parallelisation of the solver and several validation cases were considered. The computational mesh was divided into several sub-sections using a domain decomposition technique. The performance and numerical accuracy of the parallel solver was validated across several computer platforms for various problem sizes. In cases where the solution could be obtained on a single CPU, the serial and parallel versions of the code were found to produce identical results. Studies on up to 32 CPUs showed varying levels of parallelisation efficiency, an almost linear speed-up being obtained in some cases. Finally, an industrial configuration, a 17 blade row turbine with a 47 million point mesh, was discussed to illustrate the potential of the proposed large-scale modelling methodology.

Aerospace designers are increasingly interested in predicting unsteady flowfields such as those associated with store release, rotating propellers etc. However, the cost of performing fully unsteady calculations is usually prohibitively expensive. In order to address this problem for unsteady flows driven by a moving surface, a novel method is presented which calculates the time derivates as an analytic function of the instantaneous flowfield. This allows an accurate solution of the unsteady flow equations to be calculated using a quasi-unsteady approach. The validity of this approach is demonstrated for a store release and a propeller test case. Possible extensions to this method for more complex unsteady flows are presented.

A constant temperature hot-wire anemometer enabling automatic rapid scanning of the wire overheat was built to perform free stream disturbance measurements in the shock wind tunnel of the Institute for Aerodynamics and Gasdynamics at Stuttgart University. It is shown that such a system brings real advantages in terms of testing time. The change of bridge dynamic behaviour with wire temperature is taken into account by measuring the bridge frequency response with a very fast electrical test and postprocessing the data. The method of operation is validated in a supersonic suck down wind tunnel and a comparison with a commercial constant temperature bridge shows good agreement. Results of free stream disturbance measurements in a short duration supersonic wind tunnel of 120ms testing time are presented.

For the definition of the acccuracy of an internal strain gauge balance no general agreement exists. So it is difficult or even impossible, to compare balances from different manufacturers or balances used at different places.

Since most wind tunnel tests at least in the aeronautical field are done on a reference basis i.e. the results are compared with earlier results achieved with a more or less different configuration, repeatability is at least as important as absolute accuracy or even more important. So also repeatability, which in a physical sense is quite different from accuracy, must be defined and proven for each balance.

With the examples of several balances manufactured for the DNW (Deutsch-Niederländischer Windkanal) and ETW (European transonic tunnel) accuracy and repeatability definitions are discussed.

A proposal for a generally binding definition of accuracy and repeatability is given.

In spite of the best intentions of many national and international funding agencies, much of the research and technology development (RTD) activity undertaken in Europe over the past few years has often been duplicating the work of others and has not resulted in an increase in capability in key areas. This is not to denigrate the work that has been undertaken — but have we done the right work? The EC-funded Thematic Network ‘Targeted Research Action in Aerospace Aerodynamics’, (TRA3), has been initiated with the broad aims of improving collaboration between existing EC- supported projects and, more importantly, attempting to put in place a long-term strategy for European aerospace aerodynamics RTD. TRA3 is, amongst other things, attempting to answer three key questions:

• What are the important aerodynamic technologies?

• What is the European aerospace industry’s current capability in these areas?

• In which areas should Europe be investing to maintain a competi tive aerodynamics capability?

The major benefit and output expected from TRA3 is the creation of a co-ordinated European aerodynamics RTD programme. The TRA3 Management Board consists of seven people who represent a cross-section of the European aerospace industry and research establishments, together with a Project Officer from the European Commission. This Management Board is tasked with formulating long-term plans for nine ‘Key Technology Areas’ that encompass all of the important aerodynamic technologies. This paper outlines the progress that has been made in meeting the very ambitious initial aims of the demanding work programme.