CFD Modeling of a Classic Subsonic Wind Tunnel

The Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel (GLMWT) is a classic subsonic wind tunnel that has been actively involved in aerodynamic research and development since 1949. During its initial commissioning, vortex generators were installed to alleviate separation in the first diffuser under certain operating conditions. This project began as a re-examination of the vortex generator configuration in the first diffuser. Initially, it was believed that simulations could be conducted by isolating the first diffuser with plausible assumptions about the incoming flow field. However, measurements indicate that this approach is unlikely to yield reliable results, necessitating the simulation of the entire circuit to capture the influences of significant features. This paper presents the development of a CFD model of the GLMWT circuit in STAR-CCM+ to investigate flow uniformity and power requirements for a given test section speed. Computational solutions are compared with experimental data. Mesh size, turbulence model choice, and boundary layer conditions are considered for the verification and validation of the CFD model.