The goal of this project was to design and improve existing diagnostics for the indraft supersonic wind tunnel at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Diagnostics included a pitot system to measure static and stagnation pressures to calculate Mach number, and a schlieren system for visualizing wave structures in the flow. LabVIEW code for obtaining a Mach number using pressure measurements was written and validated through testing, and data acquisition system components were evaluated. The schlieren system was modified to improve image brightness, contrast, and resolution, and to facilitate positioning of optical components. Schlieren system images were compared with pressure gradient results produced by computational fluid dynamics software and showed qualitative agreement.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Johnston, Lydia Jean
• Bernardo, Shea Michael
• Viteri, David Felipe

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032515-150310

Advisor

• Blandino, John J.

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-03-25

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Aerospace Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright