Análise de técnicas de visualização de escoamento em túneis de vento utilizando o método smoke wire

Abstract

The wind tunnel flow visualization study is fundamental to design several structures, because with it is possible to analyze the aerodynamic performance of objects as cars, airplanes e buildings. This project approached the method of study in wind tunnels called Smoke Wire and it has two advantages over the other methods: the first advantage is because it runs in low speed wind tunnels, so it is possible to be built in small tunnels and with a small financial investment, the second is that it is a simply method, doesn’t require a lot of of materials to run. The Smoke Wire Method is a visualization method where a difference of potential is applied to a conduct wire that has a smoke fluid applied on. The difference of potential warms the wire, this one transfers heat to the fluid that, due to high temperature, creates smoke. In this project analyzed the best designs of conduct wires, the best smoke fluids and the best speed of the wind tunnel to have a homogeneous and laminar smoke flow. Once decided the best materials, 4 prototypes were tested to analyse the flow around them. The prototypes had the shape of a circular cylinder, an airfoil, a plate in vertical and a plate in horizontal with a circular cylinder on it. The analyses runned relates the flow visualization for an specific Reynolds Number, comparing the result with the information taked from the literature.