Trisonic Test Section Cologne (TMK)

Trisonic test section Cologne TMK

Components of the trisonic test section Cologne TMK

Operating range of the trisonic test section Cologne TMK

Visualisation of the flow around the CARV capsule configuration

Description

The TMK is a „Blow-Down“ wind tunnel with a closed test section of 0.6 x 0.6 m². It is equipped with a flexible, continuously adjustable nozzle. The simulation range of this wind tunnel varies from subsonic (Mach 0.5) to transonic and the higher supersonic range of Mach 5.7.

In the transonic setting a test chamber with perforated walls is used. A storage heating allows to vary the total temperature from ambient temperature up to 550 K in the supersonic range.. At Mach numbers above 4.5 the use of an ejector is required to reduce the pressure downstream from the nozzle. The Mach number range is complemented by the adjoining H2K hypersonic wind tunnel in which the same models can be tested as in this facility. Depending on the Mach number, approx. 10 tests per day can be carried out. The typical duration of a test is between 30 and 60 seconds.

Application areas

• Aerodynamic tests on missiles and spacecraft.
• Qualification of ramjet engine inlets.
• Simulations of stage separation processes.
• Propulsion jet simulation and side jet control.

Measurement techniques

• Force/moment measurements with 6-component DMS based balances
• Pressure distribution measurements.
• Determination of dynamic derivatives with the free and forced oscillation methods.
• Stage separation simulation by means of two-dimensional captive trajectory simulation system (CTS system).
• Schlieren optics and oil flow method (up to 150 kHz).