Aerodynamic Investigation of a Cup Anemometer

This thesis presents the results of an investigation wherein the change of the normal force coefficient with Reynolds Number was obtained statically for a 15.5-centimeter hemisphere cup under the following conditions: (1) single cup with no interference; (2) single cup with three-cup interference; (3) four cups. The coefficients found in this research vary with Reynolds Number and are high as compared with those of Eiffel. The effect of interference upon a single cup is to increase the drag and normal force coefficients. The curve resulting from the summation of the coefficients for four cups agrees with the static torque curve of a Robinson type cup anemometer. All tests were carried on in the University of Detroit atmospheric wind tunnel during May 1933.