STUDIES USING WIND TUNNEL TO SIMULATE THE ATMOSPHERIC BOUNDARY LAYER AT THE ALCÂNTARA SPACE CENTER. doi:10.5028/jatm.2009.01019198

Authors

  • Luciana P. Bassi Marinho Institute of Aeronautics and Space São José dos Campos - Brazil
  • Ana Cristina Avelar Institute of Aeronautics and Space São José dos Campos - Brazil
  • Gilberto Fisch Institute of Aeronautics and Space São José dos Campos - Brazil
  • Suelen T. Roballo National Institute for Space Research São José dos Campos - Brazil
  • Leandro Franco Souza University of Sao Paulo São Paulo - Brazil
  • Ralf Gielow National Institute for Space Research São José dos Campos - Brazil
  • Roberto da Mota Girardi Technological Institute of Aeronautics São José dos Campos - Brazil

Abstract

The Alcântara Space Center (ASC) region has a peculiar topography due to the existence of a coastal cliff, which modifies the atmospheric boundary layer characteristic in a way that can affect rocket launching operations. Wind tunnel measurements can be an important tool for the understanding of turbulence and wind flow pattern characteristics in the ASC neighborhood, along with computational fluid dynamics and observational data. The purpose of this paper is to describe wind tunnel experiments that have been carried out by researchers from the Brazilian Institutions IAE, ITA and INPE. The technologies of Hot-Wire Anemometer and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) have been used in these measurements, in order to obtain information about wind flow patterns as velocity fields and vorticity. The wind tunnel measurements are described and the results obtained are presented.

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Published

2011-07-25

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2009): Jan./Jun. 2009

Section

Communications

License

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