Eventos Anais de eventos
COBEM 2019
25th International Congress of Mechanical Engineering
DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID PROTOTYPING METHODOLOGY FOR WIND TUNNEL TEST MODEL DESIGN
Submission Author:
Bruno Ricardo Massucatto Padilha , SC , Brazil
Co-Authors:
Bruno Ricardo Massucatto Padilha, Guilherme Barufaldi, ROBERTO GIL ANNES DA SILVA
Presenter: Guilherme Barufaldi
doi://10.26678/ABCM.COBEM2019.COB2019-0274
Abstract
The use of rapid prototyping tools has shown promise in many engineering and academic areas. Currently, the qualities of these tools for building complex geometries are remarkable, combining low cost and fast production. Among the wide range of 3D printing technologies, the fused filament fabrication (FFF) stands out. In this technology, models are built by filament deposition, layer by layer until the complete generation of the final 3D geometry. This paper focuses on the aeronautical use of such tools, specifically the fabrication of models for wind tunnel testing. Such models are usually made with machined aluminum, by an expensive and slow machining process. We applied the FFF technology to build wind tunnel airfoil and wing test models, with Polylactic Acid (PLA) as raw material, obtaining a cheaper and faster process. The prototypes were tested in the Transonic Pilot Tunnel (TTP), a transonic wind tunnel located at the Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE), in São José dos Campos, Brazil. During the tests, the models were subjected to high aerodynamic loads, proving their structural strength. The pressure distribution on the surface of the models was investigated with Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP), and the experimental data were compared to that of models manufactured with traditional methods. The results allow both qualitative and quantitative analyses, leading to the identification of several characteristics of the transonic behavior, such as shock wave formation. The outcomes of the fabrication and test campaign suggest that this methodology could become a powerful tool for productivity in aerodynamic research and development, especially concerning the creation of complex geometries.
Keywords
Additive manufacturing, 3D printing, wind tunnel testing, transonic aerodynamics, Pressure Sensitive Paint
