This book presents experimental techniques in the field of aerodynamics, a discipline that is essential in numerous areas, such as the design of aerial and ground vehicles and engines, the production of energy, and understanding the wind resistance of buildings. Aerodynamics is not only concerned with improving the performance and comfort of vehicles, but also with reducing their environmental impact. The book provides updated information on the experimental and technical methods used by aerodynamicists, engineers and researchers. It describes the various types of wind tunnels from subsonic to hypersonic as well as the problems posed by their design and operation. The book also focuses on metrology, which has allowed us to gain a detailed understanding of the local properties of flows, and examines current developments toward creating a methodology combining experiments and numerical simulations: the computer-assisted wind tunnel. Lastly, it offersan overview of experimental aerodynamics based on a prospective vision of the discipline, and discusses potential futures challenges.

The book can be used as a textbook for graduate courses in aerodynamics, typically offered to students of aerospace and mechanical engineering programs, and as a learning tool for professionals and engineers in the fields of aerodynamics, aeronautics and astronautics automobile.

Bruno Chanetz is deputy director of the Fundamental and Experimental Aerodynamics department at ONERA Meudon, France. Since 2009 he has been associate professor at University Paris-Ouest. He is author of numerous publications on hypersonics and plasmas for aerodynamics.

 

Jean Délery is emeritus advisor at ONERA and chairman of the Aerodynamics Technical Committee of 3AF. He joined ONERA in 1964 where he took part in major French and European aerospace programs. He held teaching positions at University of Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, Sapienza University of Rome, SUPAERO and Ecole Polytechnique.

 

Patrick Gilliéron is aerodynamic engineer and has worked for more than 35 years on the analysis, understanding and control of flow separation. He was associate professor at the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (CNAM). He founded and led the research group in "Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics" at the Research Department of Renault.

 

Patrick Gnemmi has been engineer for more than 35 years at the French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL), France, where he has carried out research in aeroacoustics of helicopter rotors, aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics of projectiles and missiles including their means of guidance.

 

Erwin R. Gowree is associate professor in applied aerodynamics at ISAE-SUPAERO, Toulouse, France. His research activities are focused mainly on experimental aerodynamics, stability and transition of flows, and bio-inspired aerodynamics.

 

Philippe Perrier has spent more than 40 years at the Dassault Aviation, Paris, France. He has been involved in the aerodynamic design of all of the Company's aircraft since the 1970s.

The experimental approach in aerodynamic design.- Wind tunnels and other aerodynamic test facilities.- Subsonic wind tunnels.- Transonic wind.- Supersonic wind.- Hypersonic wind tunnels.- Flow visualisation techniques.- Measurement of aerodynamic forces and moments.- Characterisation of flow properties at the surface.- Intrusive measurement techniques.- Non-intrusive measurement techniques.- Laser spectroscopy and electron beam excitation.- Computer-Aided Wind Tunnel Test and Analysis.- Prospects and challenges for aerodynamics.