The effect of freestream turbulence on a lab-scale model glider

Intermediate to large scale structures in atmospheric turbulence can often cause sudden and unpredictable motions for aircrafts in flight. This has been experienced by almost everyone who has been in an airplane, and is often the first example that people think of when describing turbulence. This study seeks to experimentally investigate a lab-scale model glider subjected to different incoming freestream turbulence generated by an active grid. The experiment is performed in a water channel where the turbulence characteristics are measured with laser diagnostics. The model glider measures 4 cm in length and 5 cm in wing span, and is tethered via fishing lines through its CG to an anchor point upstream. It is allowed free motion within the interrogation volume, and produces sufficient lift such that it "flies" when the flow velocity is approximately 0.4 m/s. The motion of the glider is tracked and correlated to the measured characteristics of the flow field. The goal of the study is to investigate how the turbulence statistics influence the motion of the glider on a global scale, thus providing insight into the interactions between them.