Measurements of Wings at Very Low Reynolds Numbers

Very low Reynolds number aerodynamics is a rapidly growing field of interest, especially in regard to the design and development of micro- and nano-air vehicles. In the work culminating in this thesis, force measurement apparatuses were designed and prototyped to measure wing performance at very low Reynolds numbers in a water tunnel. The lift and drag behavior for rectangular wings with discretely angled wing profiles and aspect ratio were obtained at Reynolds numbers between 4,000 and 10,000. This thesis is intended to inform both future force measurement apparatus development for water tunnel applications and experimental research in wing performance at very low Reynolds numbers.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Bishop, Nathan F.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Selig, Michael S.

• low reynolds number
• water tunnel
• experimental aerodynamics
• micro aerial vehicles
• nano aerial vehicles
• force balance design
• wing performance

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2009 Nathan F. Bishop

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14616

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/14616