Involving former personnel of Eidetics - an SBIR involved firms - Rolling Hills Research Corporation purchased the sole rights to the Eidetics® line of water tunnels, research, and laboratory equipment while also maintaining the firm's strengths in software development and high fidelity, real-time, aircraft simulation. RHRC works in aerodynamic research concentrated on high-angle-of-attack fighter aircraft configurations and has developed an advanced, low turbulence, horizontal flow water tunnel specifically to fill the need for low cost aerodynamic research and preliminary aircraft design. RHRC's earlier work in aerodynamic research concentrated on high-angle-of-attack fighter aircraft configurations. RHRC developed an advanced, low turbulence, horizontal flow water tunnel specifically to fill the need for low cost aerodynamic research and preliminary aircraft design. More recently, RHRC has increased the capabilities of the water tunnel beyond flow visualization to develop a five component force and moment balance system that provides correlation and simultaneous display of both flow visualization and the underlying forces and moments. In addition, a computerized model support system provides not only remote movement of the model but also performs dynamic experiments with rotation (rotary balance), plunging and oscillatory motions alone or in combination. RHRC has substantial testing expertise in utilizing water tunnels, several different wind tunnels, and flight tests to perform aerodynamic research on configurations ranging from fighter aircraft to large transport class aircraft. Principals of the firm have range of capabilities to include most recently Phase III SBIR to measure the non-linear aerodynamics of the F-16XL for NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). Used for centuries to explore fluid mechanics and aerodynamic phenomena, in recent years Water Tunnels been recognized as highly useful facilities for critical evaluation of complex flow fields on many modern vehicles such as high performance aircraft - filling a unique role as research facilities for understanding the complex flows dominated by vortices and vortex interactions. Flow visualization in Water Tunnels provides an excellent means for detailed observation of the flow around a wide variety of configurations. Perhaps the most valuable feature is the ability to simultaneously measure forces and observe the flow visualization. The free stream flow and the flow field dynamics are low-speed, allowing real time visual assessment of the flow patterns using a number of techniques, including dye flow through ports in the model, hydrogen bubble generation from strategic locations on the model, or laser light sheet illumination. Rolling Hills Research Corporation offers three Water Tunnel models in its Eidetics® product line.
