Re: SL Epoxy and supersonic air flow

From: Chris Sutcliffe (c.j.sutcliffe@liverpool.ac.uk)
Date: Fri Dec 11 1998 - 13:56:11 EET


There are three problems with testing in supersonic wind tunnels.

1. Aerodynamic forces
2. Elevated surface temperatures caused by skin friction (Concorde stretches
11 inches at mach 2.2)
3. Maintenance of dimension if using a coating

Whilst RP has been used in low speed wind tunnels I am not aware of SL
models being used in High Speed tunnels. Possibly the best way round the
problem would be to investment cast the model from an SL pattern. I am
surprised that Ben has not suggested the use of PERA's excellent metal
spraying technique for the production of the parts (thats a pint you owe me
Matt)

I would not suggest using the SL model without a great deal of care shards
of SL material doing mach 1+ would not do the instrumentation no good at all

Dr. Chris. Sutcliffe
Product Innovation and Development Centre
Department of Engineering
3 Brownlow St.
Liverpool L69 3GL

(0151) 794 8022 Direct
(0151) 794 8021 Secretary
01893 209 556 Bleeper
EMail c.j.sutcliffe@liv.ac.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce E. LeMaster <LeMaster@artcorp.com>
To: rp_ml Posting <rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi>
Date: 10 December 1998 20:59
Subject: SL Epoxy and supersonic air flow

>Hello all,
>
>We have a customer that would like to have a SL
>model made and then coated with an
>as-yet-to-be-determined material and actually test
>the model in supersonic flight. We have in the
>past plated SL parts with nickel and chrome for
>use in wind tunnels (for the same customer) but I
>have no idea what goes on at supersonic flows.
>
>Do any of you have experience with SL parts at
>supersonic airflow conditions? Any thoughts on
>plating the SL part with some combination of
>metals that might strengthen it to withstand the
>test environment?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Bruce E. LeMaster
>--
>Applied Rapid Technologies Corporation
>265 Cambridge Street, Suite 100
>Fredericksburg, Virginia 22405
>(540) 371-1100 / (540) 371-4100 fax
>Web Page URL: http://www.artcorp.com
>
>
>
>For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
>

For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Tue Jun 05 2001 - 22:47:37 EEST