A Study of the Pulsations in a 3/4 Open Jet Wind Tunnel

Some open jet wind tunnels have been operating under limitations due to a phenomenon that causes large pressure fluctuations at some speeds. The matter has been studied over several years and no configuration has been found to eliminate these fluctuations without introducing new noise sources.

This paper describes test results from a sub-scale facility that demonstrates this phenomenon. The facility is then tested with a configuration that does not exhibit these phenomena over a wide range of speeds. It is possible to retrofit this configuration in existing facilities.

(The modification is the subject of a pending patent application.)