WIND TUNNEL SIMULATION OF THE ATMOSPHERIC BOUNDARY LAYER FOR STUDY OF THE WIND PATTERN AT THE ALCANTARA SPACE CENTER doi: 10.5028/jatm.2012.04044912

Abstract

The Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara (CLA) is the main Brazilian Launching Center. In spite of presenting several desirable aspects due to its proximity of the Equator, it has a peculiar topography due to the existence of a coastal cliff, which modifies the characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). This may affect rocket-launching operations, especially associated with the safety procedures. This work is a continuation of previous experimental studies about the air flow pattern at CLA. An improved way of simulating the atmospheric boundary layer in a short test section wind tunnel using passive methods is presented as well as a preliminary analysis of the air flow pattern in CLA, at specific positions as the edge of cliff and around the Mobile Integration Tower (TMI), from wind tunnel measurements using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Three values of Reynolds number (Re_l) based on the coastal cliff height, l, ranged from 6.8x10⁵ to 2.0x10⁶ were considered.