Journal Article

A Multiple-Field Finite Element Method Analysis of Observation Window for Cryogenic Wind Tunnel

Hou, Y., Song, Y.-j., Lai, H., Ma, Y.-y., Zhang, W.

2023

Overview

Observation window is an important component for visual observation during cryogenic wind tunnel testing. However, the change of temperature and pressure in the wind tunnel may lead to thermal stress and deformation of the observation window, threatening the safety of observation window. On this account, aiming to improve observation window structure, the temperature and stress fields of observation window for continuous transonic cryogenic wind tunnel were investigated by a fluid-solid-thermal coupling finite element method in this work. A numerical calculation model of cryogenic observation window was established based on the designed boundary and initial conditions. A fluid-solid-thermal coupling analysis was carried out to investigate the temperature and stress fields, respectively. Finally, taking the flow rate of nitrogen as the variable and the surface temperature of outer plexiglass as the optimization objective, the heat exchange parameter of the observation window was optimized. The obtained results showed that when the flow rate of nitrogen was 20 m·s − 1 (the mass flow of nitrogen was equal to 0.00291 kg·s − 1 ), the temperature of the outer plexiglass was 289.6 K after 10,800 s, which was 1.3 K higher than the dew point temperature. This can ensure clear observation through the cryogenic observation window. This work provides the guidance and reference for the heating gas consumption of cryogenic wind tunnel.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials / Chemistry and Materials Science / Computations and Experiments on Dynamics of Complex Fluid and Structure / Cryogenic wind tunnels / Dew point / Finite element method / Finite volume method / Flow velocity / Heat conductivity / Heat exchange / Heat transfer / Initial conditions / Insulation / Mass flow / Materials Science / Nitrogen / Phase transitions / Reynolds number / S.I. : Computations & Experiments on Dynamics of Complex Fluid & Structure / Simulation / Stainless steel / Stress concentration / Stress distribution / Thermal coupling / Thermal stress / Visual observation / Wind tunnel testing