Wind Tunnel Investigation of Vertical Stabilizer Wedging Angles on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Modular Aircraft Model
Valeria VAVALÀ, Ambra GIOVANNELLI, Tomasz ⱢUSIAK
Abstract. The article reports the experimental findings of a 3D-printed modular airframe with interchangeable stabilizers tested in a wind tunnel. In particular, it describes how variations in the stabilizer geometry affect the aerodynamic performance of the airframe. Parameters of measurement (airflow velocity, air density, slope angle, and sideslip) were put into the Sting program for accurate data acquisition during the test campaigns. The Sting software, realised in Gdynia (Poland) in 2018, is useful to run calibration sequences and keep measurement biases under a minimum value as well as to enable real-time model simulations and data analyses. The wind tunnel used was a closed-circuit modular tunnel with a 2400 mm fan, which is capable of generating air velocities up to 60 m/s, with a modular chamber design enabling a variety of test objects. The chosen setup allowed for measurements at an airflow velocity of 27–29 m/s, which is typical of small-scale aerodynamic testing, while allowing accurate force and moment readings. The model was studied in a wind tunnel where test campaigns were carried out to see how stabilizer configurations affect aerodynamic performance metrics like lift, drag, and side forces. As a result, the test data have been processed and analysed to find key aerodynamic results, which were then compared across different stabilizer setups to check their performance and compare several stabilisers’ configurations, highlighting those ones that improve aerodynamic stability and efficiency.
Keywords
Aircraft, Airplane, Modular Design, Simulation, Stabilizer, Aerodynamic, Wind Tunnel, Sting Software, Wedging Angles
Published online 7/20/2026, 6 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Valeria VAVALÀ, Ambra GIOVANNELLI, Tomasz ⱢUSIAK, Wind Tunnel Investigation of Vertical Stabilizer Wedging Angles on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Modular Aircraft Model, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 69, pp 100-105, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904251-18
The article was published as article 18 of the book CEAS – AIDAA Conference 2025
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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