Global pressure measurements in a transonic convex model with VGs

ABSTRACT This study experimentally investigated the global pressure distribution on a transonic convex corner model by using pressure-sensitive paint (PSP). Vortex generators (VGs) of different heights—0.0, 0.2 or 1.0 relative to the height of the turbulent boundary layer thickness—were employed under transonic flow conditions of Mach 0.83 and 0.89. Temperature-sensitive paint was applied to obtain data for correcting the PSP measurements. Our results indicated that a generator height of 0.2 is optimal for delaying separation, whereas a height of 1.0 can induce parasitic drag. The temperature-corrected PSP data agreed well with the measurements using Kulite pressure transducers, emphasizing the ability of PSP to provide two-dimensional pressure distributions and reveal low-pressure regions from pair vortex traces. The PSP measurements effectively illustrated the upwash and downwash around VGs, highlighting the high spatial resolution of PSP data in global flow visualization.