Design and Development of Additively Manufactured Blended Wing Body Models for Wind Tunnel Experiments

Abstract

The study provides a detailed account of the Stereolithography (SLA) additive manufacturing process used to manufacture a Blended Wing Body (BWB) model for low-subsonic wind tunnel testing. It examines the feasibility of SLA for fabricating aerodynamic models, focusing on material properties, minimum feature sizes, internal channel design, and post-processing techniques such as curing, support removal, and surface finishing. The research highlights the advantages of SLA in achieving complex geometries with smooth surfaces and fine details, demonstrating its potential as a cost-effective and efficient method for manufacturing wind tunnel models. Considerations for structural integrity, print resolution, and surface treatment are explored to enhance model accuracy. The study also outlines best practices for optimizing the manufacturing process to ensure reliable and repeatable production, making SLA a viable approach for rapid prototyping in aerodynamic research.