Design and Characterization of a 3D Gust Generator Facility

Urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft suffer from highly three-dimensional, anisotropic unsteady loads from atmospheric turbulence, coherent building vortices and upstream vehicle wakes. Existing 1D and 2D gust models that feed into autonomous flight do not accurately represent this urban turbulence and more studies are needed to develop and validate the urban gusts. We propose to generate three-dimensional highly controllable gusts using a distributed flow facility comprised of 80 mm fans that can be controlled simultaneously. We present results from preliminary experiments, using laser based diagnostics, that characterize the facility and reveal the repertoire of gusts that can be generated. The results will lay a foundation for being able to replicate the turbulent airflow profile such as helical vortices that exist in urban environments that can be used with UAM aircraft in a larger test facility.