Flow visualization study of an airship model using a water towing tank

The work presented investigates the aerodynamic drag and flow physics of an airship configuration. The investigation is carried out experimentally in a water towing tank. The purpose of this project is to improve the understanding of the aerodynamic characteristics of an airship through quantitative and qualitative approaches. Qualitative measurements of integral drag force and moment are measured in the presence of a crosswind. Flow visualization using colored and fluorescent dyes has been applied to improve knowledge of the aerodynamics of airship configurations with an emphasis on the boundary layer separation, transition and hull–appendage interference effects.