[Nick R]

Hi guys,


I'd like to model the flow over an airfoil in the test section of a wind tunnel. I've read that there's an error caused by the wake of the airfoil in a tunnel. Could someone explain to me clearly how the wake blockage is caused? And how is that different from the situation where the airfoil is in free surrounding? We still have the wake there too. So what is the difference? Thanks.

Nick.

[lovecraft22]

You can see the wake as a solid body. Being a solid body it generates blockage. This reduces the area of your test section thus increasing the wind speed around your body. This is the difference between what happens in a wind tunnel and what happens in an open environment.