RESEARCH ARTICLE | MAY 24 2021

Application of databases for acquisition, storage, and

processing of results of aerodynamic experiments 
A. V. Lokotko; A. S. Pevzner  ; N. V. Yakovleva

AIP Conf. Proc. 2351, 040001 (2021)

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0052036

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 Application of Databases for Acquisition, Storage, and
Processing of Results of Aerodynamic Experiments
A. V. Lokotko, A. S. Pevznera), and N. V. Yakovleva

Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

a)
Corresponding author: pevzner@itam.nsc.ru

Abstract. A software system implemented on the basis of databases (DBs) is developed for acquisition, storage, and
processing of results obtained in experiments performed in blowdown wind tunnels. This system is installed on three
aerodynamic facilities of the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Siberian Branch of the
Russian Academy of Sciences and includes experimental data obtained in 1999 – 2020 (more than 5000 experiments).

INTRODUCTION
The software system ensures experiment preparation (selection and tuning of the measurement equipment,

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calibration of sensors, and planning the use of traversing gears in experiments), performing standard experiments
(measurement of forces, moments, and pressure fields), and additional capabilities (synchronization of individual
subsystems used in a particular test, control of traversing gear motion in accordance to the chosen plan). The
software system also ensures accumulation of calibration and experimental data of aerodynamic facilities and
convenient tools for working with this information. The possibility of data analysis (especially real-time analysis) is
important and in much demand.

UNIFICATION OF THE SYSTEM

The data acquisition systems are unique for each aerodynamic facility because the wind tunnels them-selves and
their equipment are also unique. An individual set of sensors is available on each wind tunnel for each particular set
of experiments. The sensors are connected to digitization devices, in turn, connected to a computer. The list of
measured parameters, sensors, and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is unique for each series of tests. The
common (universal) part of the data acquisition system employs the DB technologies and allows the equipment
configuration to be tuned for each particular set of experiments. (Fig.1).
During test preparation, the user forms a technological chart of the experiment (configuration of necessary
equipment) and chooses sensors and calibration parameters satisfying the requirements of a particular experiment
from the DB.

International Conference on the Methods of Aerophysical Research (ICMAR 2020)

AIP Conf. Proc. 2351, 040001-1–040001-5; https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0052036
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-4099-9/$30.00

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 FIGURE 1. Diagram of the data acquisition and control systems

EXPERIMENT PREPARATION AND CONDUCTION

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Based on the test program, a set of quantities (channels, components, or parameters) to be measured and/or
calculate in the course of tests is determined. Using the DB called the “experiment configuration,” the user generates
a structure (technological chart) that describes a particular experiment. Each technological chart contains title
information (wind tunnel number, experimenter’s name, and date) and description of equipment used (physical
name of the quantity, equipment involved, and information about the sensor and its calibration).
The measurement channel is determined by the sensor and digitization device. Information about the sensor and
its calibration is chosen from the DB called the “sensors and calibrations,” while the digitization device is chosen
from the DB “ADC reference book”. Agilent НР-34970А multimeters, Advantech 1710HG card, ADAM and ICP
DAS moduli, LCard14-140, and modules and counters developed by the Federal Research Center for Information
and Computational Technologies can be used as digitization devices. The computational channels are determined by
a special formula or by a library subroutine; the use of these channels allows the experimenter to trace the calculated
parameter behavior during the experiment.
All channels defined in the technological chart are interrogated during the test. The times of the measurement
beginning and end are recorded. The measured data are presented in tabulated and graphical forms. The channels to
be traced by the experimenter are shown in a special window for continuous interrogation in 1 second. An additional
window shows the values in the channels (pressure or temperature distribution) at a chosen time instant. Thus, all
necessary information is presented in a convenient form.
Experiments with the traversing gear imply automatic operation. For this purpose, the experimenter prepares a
file with a special structure, which contains information on planned motions, time delays, and number of
measurements at specified points. During the experiment, the user-chosen information is presented in graphical and
tabulated forms, which allows the experimenter to control the test. The developed synchronization subsystem allows
taking photographs at needed points.

ORGANIZATION OF DATA STORAGE

The problem of structuring aerodynamic data and providing access to them was raised long ago [1]. As each
series of experiments has an individual set of parameters, it is rather difficult to create a unified DB structure for

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data storage. One way of solving this problem is the development of specific structure of data for each test series [2].
Our software system is based on another principle of data organization: the DB contains only information typical for
all experiments [3]. Other data are stored in files on the server. Owing to this solution, information is automatically
written into the DB and all experimental data, geometric characteristics of the models, and video information are
located at one place for centralized data storage and basic procedures with data (sorting, search, and real-time
analysis).

PRIMARY PROCESSING OF EXPERIMENTAL DATA

The DB called the “archive of experimental data” allows the following functions to be performed:
1. choice of data on the wind tunnel, Mach number, model, and range of dates;
2. sorting of data on the basis of a specified requisite, e.g., it is possible to sort data in accordance with the
date;
3. viewing of information about the model and video information;
4. primary analysis of experimental data.
Using the DB, the experimenter can view data in the form they are presented of data acquisition programs and
rapidly plot dependences and/or distributions of examined variables at a certain time instant. All capabilities of data
acquisition programs (except for data acquisition proper) are implemented in the DB called the “archive of
experimental data”. Primary analysis of data is required for real-time decision making on subsequent tests [3].
One of the popular methods of data analysis is the On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) mechanism, i.e., the
process of real-time analysis and the software class that allows the user to obtain answers to arbitrary analytical
queries in real time.

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FIGURE 2. Basic functionability of OLAP technologies:
Function: several (no more than 10) channels of one experiment depending on any other (time, channel)
Distribution: values of channels at a chosen time instant
Statistics: values of a chosen parameter in a series of experiments

There are many developments on OLAP technologies for relational databases. Unfortunately, these technologies
are unsuitable for situations where some part of data have to be stored in individual files (for certain reasons).
Therefore, in our problems, we use the most interesting and required real-time processing of experimental data:
analysis of graphical dependences (Fig. 2).
The experimental data are presented in a tabulated form. The “function” allows choosing the channels for
viewing (columns of the table), and the “distribution” allows choosing the time instant (rows of the table). One
experiment can be considered in terms of both the rows and columns of the table. For comparisons of different
experiments (“statistics”), the user has to mark needed experiments in the table of the DB called the “archive of
experimental data”.

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 The data processing programs include the primary and secondary processing. During the experiment, electrical
variables are recalculated to physical variables, and similarity criteria (Mach and Reynolds numbers and dynamic
pressure) are calculated. After the experiment, the secondary processing is performed, which is specific for each
particular type of experiments (measurement of forces, moments, pressure distributions, etc.). If necessary, special
codes for data processing are developed.

SOFTWARE SYSTEM STRUCTURE

The software system for experimental research consists of the following parts (Fig. 3):

x server DB called the “archive of experimental data” (Firebird/Linux);

x server DB called the “sensors and calibrations” (Firebird/Linux);
x local DBs of technological charts of data acquisition systems (Firebird/Windows);
x primary analysis of experimental data;
x secondary analysis of experimental data.

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FIGURE 3. Software system for acquisition, storage, and processing of data obtained in aerodynamic experiments

The DB called the “sensors and calibrations” contains information about available sensors and their calibrations.
The data acquisition systems allow calibration of needed sensors and recording of the calibration results into the DB.
After the experiment, the data are recorded into the server DB called the “archive of experimental data”
(Firebird/Linux). The results of all calibrations and experiments are available for registered users who have the
client’s application for this DB on their computers. The majority of the DB requisites are formalized and linked to
the corresponding reference DB, which allows necessary information to be easily found. The search and sorting
commands are implemented via SQL queries to the server.

CONCLUSIONS
The DB-based software system for acquisition, storage, and processing of information obtained in experiments
performed in wind tunnels of the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Siberian
Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been successfully used for approximately 20 years in the following
facilities:

x T-313 supersonic wind tunnel:

x T-326 hypersonic wind tunnel;
x VJF vertical jet facility.

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 This system allows one to choose specific equipment for a particular experiment, calibrate the sensors, and
perform measurements in a chosen regime. The information obtained in the experiment is transmitted via the local
network to the DB called the “archive of experimental data,” which ensures the main capabilities of data
manipulation (sorting and selection in accordance with a chosen criterion) and real-time data analysis.
The system is unified at the level of its interface. Relationships between the databases of the sensors,
calibrations, models, and experimental data are provided.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was carried out within the framework of the Program of Fundamental Research of the State
Academies of Sciences in 2013-2020 (Project No. AAAA-A17-117030610137-0).

REFERENCES
1. Ju. I. Vyshenkov, M. S. Ivanov, and S. M. Malyhin, ITAM SB RAS Report No. 1118 (1980).
2. O. N. Mosseichuk, “The development of a database of aerodynamic experiments and computations performed
at ITAM,” in International Conference on the Methods of Aerophysical Research, Proceedings 3, edited by
V. Fomin (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 1998), pp. 193–199.
3. A. V. Lokotko, A. S. Pevzner, and N. V. Jakovleva, Info. and math. tech. in science and management 2(6),
123–131 (2017). [in Russian]

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