Wake survey techniques for objects with highly turbulent wakes

The primary objective of this study is to develop practical and accurate wake survey techniques for determining the drag of bluff bodies that have highly turbulent wakes. The commonly used wake survey method, the simplified Jones' equation with pneumatic probe measurements, was found to be inadequate in such cases. This study consisted of an experimental investigation of several wind-tunnel models, a theoretical analysis of turbulence effects on pressure measurements, and an analysis of wake drag equations.; The experimental investigation was performed in the Illinois 3- by 4-foot low-speed wind tunnel. In the test, the wake of a 1-inch diameter cylinder and two airfoils, an S809 and NACA 0012, with and without various ice simulations were surveyed in detail using several Pitot-static probes with different nose shapes and an X-hotwire. The cylinder results were used to validate the wake survey techniques. The drag of the airfoils with and without ice accretions was determined using the validated wake survey techniques.; A theoretical analysis of the turbulence effect on total and static pressure measurements was presented and compared with experimental data. Methods for correcting the turbulence effect on pressure measurements were provided, and a technique for estimating the turbulence kinetic pressure using the uncorrected pressure measurements was developed.; Turbulence was also found to play an important role in drag determination through Reynolds stresses and static pressure deficit in the wake. A new wake drag equation was derived to include the turbulence effects. It was found the turbulence contribution to profile drag was over 17% in the cylinder test, and over 10% in the test of airfoils with ice accretions.; This dissertation for the first time analyzed the turbulence effect on the simplified Jones' equation with measurements using a Pitot probe, and found that this method includes a portion of the turbulence effect into account implicitly, depending on the nose shape of the probe. A method for estimating this implicit correction was developed. Finally, wake survey techniques for determining the drag of objects with highly turbulent wakes were recommended.