Air streams on the water
Before launch, the French navy's ships are tested in wind tunnels to define their conditions of use.
24 January 2007
Number 32
![]() A projection and command ship [BPC] model in situation in the L2 wind tunnel in Lille |
Before being launched, ships must be subjected to a few air currents. In practice, since 1947, each new type of French navy ship has been tested in Onera’s wind tunnels in Lille. The objective is to study the ship's aerology, i.e. the way in which the air flows around it. Recently, a projection and command ship, intended for landing operations, was tested. | ||||
This is a helicopter carrier which also transports smaller boats (lighters) that can be launched easily. Therefore, a 1/120th scale model of the ship was made in order to characterize the flows, vortices and speed in the masts. Even though all the real air flows cannot be represented in a wind tunnel (we do not know how to represent a twisted sheet or the ship's swell motions), all these measurements are essential for getting a better understanding of the air movements and their consequences. | ![]() 3D speed profile in line with the ship's deck |
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