OVERVIEW

In this cut-side-view of the section of the wind-tunnel (click here for an explanation of the tools and experiment set up); one may observe that by assuming steady flow, the stagnation points (or points where the normal pressure is the lowest) are located at the middle of the cylinders' face facing the velocity flow. This was found experimentally by moving the pitot-tube up and down the stream flow until the lowest pressure reading was achieved. (The 4mm mark shows the distance gap this pitot-tube device can move at a time).

Looking closely at the cylinder, one can relate the data outputs to the behavior of fluids around a cylinder. The continuous lines represent the behavior of the wind around the cylinder. The Separation Point is where turbulence begins. The dashed lines show the Wake Region (also known as the vortex-region), this is the area in which slow-moving air molecules wait to regain speed; which usually happens at the Reattachment Point (also labeled).

This graph better explains the pitot-tube used on the experiment, and the equation used for converting the computer data-output (in millivolts) into mechanically workable units (pounds per square inch - psi).

Normal Pressure Acting on the Body’s Geometry

Diagram of the different pressure ports' location around the cylinder (Left: cut-side view, Right: Actual device). This experiment allows one to measure the pressure normal to the cylinder, this done in order to view the wind behavior around the cylinder. Theoretically, Port 1 (see diagram) should have the lowest pressure reading, and this value should increase as one moves around the cylinder.