The aerodynamic response of airborne discs

A study has been conducted to characterize the flow over a free-flying disc. In this study, three types of discs are analyzed in a series of stationary experiments, and a single disc is analyzed in a spinning experiment. Two dimensionless parameters dominate the experiments, the Reynolds number and the tip speed ratio. The first experiment measured the lift and drag at varying angles of attack on a stationary disc. The second stationary experiment was a unique measurement of the center of lift of a disc as a function of velocity. The third stationary experiment was a tuft test to describe the boundary layer, done at different velocities and angles of attack. The spinning disc experiment utilized smoke to visualize the flow around the disc and ascertain the effects of spin on vorticity and boundary layer separation. Results showed that the center of lift was behind the geometric center at low velocity and moved rapidly forward with increasing velocity. Tuft and smoke tests showed that the boundary layer was attached across the entire surface with strong vortices shed from the sides and from the rear of the disc. The flow was primarily affected by the disc's leading edge with secondary effects from the domed contour.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1999

Author dc:creator

• Mitchell, Timothy Lewis

Contributors dc:contributor

• Darrell Pepper

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/1043

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-2042