Blockage effects on surface pressures: The case of an inclined flat plate with and without a guide plate

Wind tunnel wall confinement severely affects the flow characteristics around bluff bodies. In this experimental study, the blockage effects on the mean surface pressures of an inclined flat plate (aspect ratio = 0.5, tilt angle = 15-30°) with and without a guide plate were examined in two separated wind tunnels. The blockage ratio (BR) ranged from 1.79 to 16.12%, in which a BR of less than 5% was considered an interference-free case. The streamwise and spanwise pressure distributions are definitely affected by BR. Model configuration is another concern. Maskells correction method is applicable in the region of flow separation and corner vortices. There is only a minor correction in the stagnation flow region.