Research project: Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic characterisation of tip leakage flows

To gain a detailed understanding of the flow in the vicinity of the aerofoil tip, detailed flow and unsteady surface pressure measurements will be performed on a single, non-rotating aerofoil located close to a rigid wall in an open jet wind tunnel. The design of the rig, which represents one of the most challenging aspects of the project is key to fully understanding these subtle and complex flow features. Several complementary flow velocity measurement techniques (HWA, LDA, PIV) will be employed to fully characterise the steady and unsteady flow near the blade tip. Combining this flow and acoustic data provides a fundamental understanding into the noise generating mechanisms associated with tip leakage noise, which provides the bases for developing noise mitigation measures.