Experiments and analysis for a gust generator in a wind tunnel

An experimental investigation was made of the gust field generated by a rotating slotted cylinder installed in the Duke University low-speed, closed-circuit wind tunnel. The system has a very simple configuration with low cost and can produce a controllable single or multiple harmonic gust wave in the lateral and longitudinal directions. It requires minimal power and torque input. A simplified theoretical aerodynamic model and a design estimation of the lateral and longitudinal gust flowfield is also proposed in this article. The design estimate is based on a two-dimensional dynamic lift coefficient that is given by the theoretical and experimental results. An interfering wake vortex effect is the major disadvantage of this system.