Abstract
Traditionally, computational predictions and experimental evaluations of
aerodynamic concepts have been conducted separately, with little collaboration
other than post priori comparisons of results. This has led to
distrust and even antagonism between the computational and the experimental
communities. These difficulties probably began when early computational fluid
dynamic practitioners boasted that wind tunnels would become secondary in
aerodynamic concept development within a few short years, a prediction that has
not come true. On the contrary, it is believed that a great deal of synergy can
be cultivated when computational and experimental evaluations are conducted in
an integrative fashion. A variety of projects where this has been done will be
reviewed, including a pitching Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, a delta wing with
periodic suction and blowing for aerodynamic control, a missile with drag brakes
that caused excessive unsteady flow, a C-130 aircraft configured for airdrop,
and closed-loop flow control. Further evolution of the numerical/experimental
collaboration will be discussed showing results from the flow control research
where the dividing line between numerical predictions and experimental
evaluations is becoming blurred. Suggestions for future directions in
collaboration will also be made.
