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Unsteady aerodynamics of single and tandem wheels

Unsteady aerodynamics of single and tandem wheels
Unsteady aerodynamics of single and tandem wheels
The major unsteady aerodynamic forces and major physics of a generic single wheel and tandem wheels are studied for the first time using wind tunnel tests. The wind-tunnel tests are performed in the 2.1 m × 1.5 m wind tunnel at the University of Southampton. The tandem-wheel configuration consists of two in-line wheels that can be tested at different inter-axis distances and various installation angles. A vibration test is performed in situ on the model assembly to validate the unsteady-load measurements. Mean and unsteady aerodynamic loads and on-surface pressures are measured. Particle Image Velocimetry is used to acquire the velocity fields in the wake downstream of the model and surface oil-flow technique is used to identify the flow features on the surface of the wheels. Proper Orthogonal Decomposition is also used to characterise the wake in terms of unsteady fluctuations. The results of the experiments on the tandem wheels show that higher values of inter-axis distance correspond to slightly higher total mean drag coefficients and remarkably lower drag coefficient RMS values. Higher installation angles are associated with higher mean drag coefficients but generally lower fluctuations of the force coefficients. Non-zero mean lift coefficients are found for low inter-axis distance configurations at zero installation angle. The flow on the single wheel and on the front wheel of the tandem wheels is affected by laminar-turbulent transitional features. The vortical structures past the tandem wheels consist of four vortices that detach from the tyre shoulders of the front wheel and interact with the rear wheel. The study and obtained databases contribute to the general understanding of the complex flow and help to improve engineering predication of the gear aerodynamic loads.
0889-9746
121-136
Spagnolo, Stefano
6e37db07-84e8-420e-a577-330b1efa29a0
Zhang, Xin
3056a795-80f7-4bbd-9c75-ecbc93085421
Hu, Zhiwei
dd985844-1e6b-44ba-9e1d-fa57c6c88d65
Stalnov, Oksana
6ca7508b-4d32-4e46-9158-ef8f03795ece
Angland, David
b86880c6-31fa-452b-ada8-4bbd83cda47f
Spagnolo, Stefano
6e37db07-84e8-420e-a577-330b1efa29a0
Zhang, Xin
3056a795-80f7-4bbd-9c75-ecbc93085421
Hu, Zhiwei
dd985844-1e6b-44ba-9e1d-fa57c6c88d65
Stalnov, Oksana
6ca7508b-4d32-4e46-9158-ef8f03795ece
Angland, David
b86880c6-31fa-452b-ada8-4bbd83cda47f

Spagnolo, Stefano, Zhang, Xin, Hu, Zhiwei, Stalnov, Oksana and Angland, David (2017) Unsteady aerodynamics of single and tandem wheels. Journal of Fluids and Structures, 69, 121-136. (doi:10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2016.11.022).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The major unsteady aerodynamic forces and major physics of a generic single wheel and tandem wheels are studied for the first time using wind tunnel tests. The wind-tunnel tests are performed in the 2.1 m × 1.5 m wind tunnel at the University of Southampton. The tandem-wheel configuration consists of two in-line wheels that can be tested at different inter-axis distances and various installation angles. A vibration test is performed in situ on the model assembly to validate the unsteady-load measurements. Mean and unsteady aerodynamic loads and on-surface pressures are measured. Particle Image Velocimetry is used to acquire the velocity fields in the wake downstream of the model and surface oil-flow technique is used to identify the flow features on the surface of the wheels. Proper Orthogonal Decomposition is also used to characterise the wake in terms of unsteady fluctuations. The results of the experiments on the tandem wheels show that higher values of inter-axis distance correspond to slightly higher total mean drag coefficients and remarkably lower drag coefficient RMS values. Higher installation angles are associated with higher mean drag coefficients but generally lower fluctuations of the force coefficients. Non-zero mean lift coefficients are found for low inter-axis distance configurations at zero installation angle. The flow on the single wheel and on the front wheel of the tandem wheels is affected by laminar-turbulent transitional features. The vortical structures past the tandem wheels consist of four vortices that detach from the tyre shoulders of the front wheel and interact with the rear wheel. The study and obtained databases contribute to the general understanding of the complex flow and help to improve engineering predication of the gear aerodynamic loads.

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Unsteady Aerodynamics of Single and Tandem Wheels.pdf - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 28 November 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 29 December 2016
Published date: February 2017
Organisations: Aerodynamics & Flight Mechanics Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 403949
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/403949
ISSN: 0889-9746
PURE UUID: 1ed7af6c-05ff-4614-9642-b4829ffefcab

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Date deposited: 16 Dec 2016 14:27
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:09

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Contributors

Author: Stefano Spagnolo
Author: Xin Zhang
Author: Zhiwei Hu
Author: Oksana Stalnov
Author: David Angland

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