Aerodynamic experimental investigation using stereolithography fabricated test models: the case of a linear compressor blading cascade

The purpose of this work is to demonstrate that rapid prototyping can be effectively applied for fabricating test models to be used in aerodynamic experimental investigations. The present work, in particular, concerns a linear cascade of 2½-D blades, with NACA 65-12(A10)10 profile section. Each one of the nine separate (identical) blades of the cascade has been fabricated using a stereolithography rapid prototyping technique. The cascade has been installed in an aerodynamic test rig, in order to simulate the flow conditions through a compressor blading. Aspects concerning the fabrication of the test models/blades, their functionality, their post-processing, the mounting arrangement and the pressure tubing and ports are discussed in detail. Experimental results for the distribution of the blade surface airflow pressure for various incidence angles compare favourably with computational results obtained with a panel inviscid flow numerical scheme. This implicitly indicates the effectiveness of employing stereolithography for fabricating wind tunnel test models.

[1]  C. Tyler,et al.  A Joint Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Fluid Dynamics Test Program , 2004 .

[2]  Robert Beard,et al.  Evaluation of stereolithography rapid prototyping for low speed airfoil design , 1997 .

[3]  P. Bradshaw,et al.  Momentum transfer in boundary layers , 1977 .

[4]  J. Giannatsis,et al.  Additive fabrication technologies applied to medicine and health care: a review , 2009 .

[5]  J. Giannatsis,et al.  A study of the build-time estimation problem for Stereolithography systems , 2001 .

[6]  J. Giannatsis,et al.  Decision support tool for selecting fabrication parameters in stereolithography , 2007 .

[7]  J. Giannatsis,et al.  Architectural scale modelling using stereolithography , 2002 .

[8]  J. Giannatsis,et al.  Stereolithography assisted redesign and optimisation of a dishwasher spraying arm , 2004 .

[9]  Paul F. Jacobs,et al.  Stereolithography and Other Rp&m Technologies: From Rapid Prototyping to Rapid Tooling , 1995 .

[10]  Charles Tyler,et al.  Development of a Low Cost, Rapid Prototype, Lambda Wing-Body Wind Tunnel Model , 2003 .

[11]  William Braisted,et al.  Evaluation of Rapid Prototyping Technologies for Use in Wind Tunnel Model Fabrication , 2005 .

[12]  William H. Dornfeld,et al.  DIRECT DYNAMIC TESTING OF STEREOLITHOGRAPHIC MODELS , 1994 .

[13]  I. H. Abbott,et al.  Theory of Wing Sections: Including a Summary of Airfoil Data , 1959 .

[14]  Vincent Thomson,et al.  A comparison of rapid prototyping techniques used for wind tunnel model fabrication , 1998 .

[15]  W K Chan,et al.  Rapid manufacturing techniques in the development of an axial blood pump impeller , 2003, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.