Flow Characterization of the NPS Supersonic Wind Tunnel

A series of experimental measurements were conducted to characterize the flow of the Naval Postgraduate School's Supersonic Wind Tunnel. The blow-down wind tunnel recently received hardware improvements to the plenum chamber to reduce turbulence levels in the test section. A series of total-pressure and high frequency Kulite pressure probes were designed, built using additive manufacturing and utilized to measure the test section velocity profile as well as wall viscous phenomena. Measurements were compared to computational fluid dynamics solutions. Significant secondary flow was identified along test section sidewalls by both techniques.