Splitter Plate Design for Side Wall Testing in the Kirsten Wind Tunnel

Abstract

Half-model and side-wall balance capabilities are being developed for an ongoing High-Lift Common Research Model (CRM-HL) testing campaign at the University of Washington. As part of this effort, a well characterized splitter plate is required to provide a symmetry plane. This thesis outlines the design and testing of this splitter plate, as well as requirements to obtain a well-characterized, zero-pressure gradient, uniform, canonical turbulent boundary layer that is free of artifacts. The splitter spans the entire test section wall, avoiding the geometric chamfers, and consists of three main body plates, a rounded leading edge, trailing edge flap, and instrumentation for pressure and velocity diagnostics. The design meets requirements for flatness, stiffness, modularity, and repeatability. It also complies with the tunnel's safety standards, while adapting to the challenges of building a large-scale structure with tight tolerances using available fabrication tools. The plate will be validated via boundary layer measurements using a pitot-traverse system and static pressure taps to confirm flow uniformity over the plate and verify that the splitter enables a zero-pressure-gradient environment. The system is expected to significantly reduce experimental uncertainty and minimize biases due to interactions with the model's symmetry plane.