MART

Mart

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Micro air vehicle Aerodynamics Research Tunnel (MART) at CSIR-NAL has been established to meet all the special requirements for MAV studies. Some of the features of this low speed, suction type closed test section, low turbulence wind tunnel includes open jet test section with a large Betz chamber and active gust generation mechanism. The open test section has the advantage of having no boundary layer effects and reflections due to wall during flapping/rotary wing studies. The Betz chamber helps in maintaining the static pressure in the open jet test section. It also helps in recording the flight trajectory of insects, butterflies, dragonflies etc. under varying gust conditions. The active gust generation mechanism consists of oscillatory vanes to generate sinusoidal variation in the tunnel flow velocity at different frequencies

 

Specifications

Geometrical Specification

Type

Open Circuit, Suction

Contraction Ratio

09:01

Test Section

Closed: 0.8 m x 1.2 m x 2.5 m

Open Jet: 0.8 m x 1.2 m x 1.0 m

Diffuser

6 m long, Circular Shape

Entry Section

Bell Shape, Fineness ratio 8

Honeycomb & Screen

Square cells with high aspect ratio,

3 Nos. (0.2 mm X 1 mm: 1, 0.2 mm X 0.8 mm: 2 )

Overall length

17 m

Fan & Motor

12 bladed (FRP) Belt driven, 45 kW, 1450 RPM

Flow Characteristics

Velocity Range

Closed Test Section: 1 m/s to 45 m/s

Open Test Section: 1 m/s to 25 m/s

Mean Flow Velocity Variation

± 0.1 %

Turbulence Intensity

Up to 10 m/s : < 0.1 %

10 m/s to 45 m/s : < 0.15 %

 

 

Techniques applied in this facility

  • Model Mounting and Positioning System: Automated 2D/3D model positioning for pitch, yaw and roll.
  • Test Section Traverse System: Computerized 3D traverse system.
  • Force/Moment Measurements: Six component sting balance, load cells, floor mounted balance, low load balance.
  • Pressure Measurements: ESP Scanners, Furness Control Digital Micro-manometer, Setra differential pressure transducer.
  • Turbulence Measurements: Dantec CTA system.
  • Flow Visualization: Smoke wire with laser sheet illumination source and high speed camera, oil and tuft flow visualization.
  • Advanced Flow Diagnostic Tools: MSE Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) system, Dantec 2D PIV system and Time-Resolved Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).

 

Major clients of this facility

  • R&D Organizations
  • Private and Academic Institutions
  • Various CSIR-NAL Divisions

 

Last updated on : 07-09-2020 05:13:50pm