Experimental aerodynamics. Wind tunnels and measurement methods

This book presents a state of experimentation in the field of aerodynamics, as the importance of this discipline remains paramount for the design of air and land vehicles, for energy production, for engines, for the wind resistance of buildings and many other fields. Aerodynamics is not only concerned with improving vehicle performance and comfort, but also with reducing the nuisance they cause. The book provides up-to-date information on the experimental and technical means used by aerodynamicists, engineers and researchers. The various types of wind tunnels - from subsonic to hypersonic - are described, presenting the problems posed by their design and operation. A large place is given to metrology, which has undergone a real revolution by providing access to precise and local knowledge of the properties of a flow. This spectacular advance is to be compared with the progress in the field of numerical flow simulation (CFD). Developments in progress to build a methodology combining experiments and numerical simulations are presented below.