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<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">WESD</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>Wind Energy Science Discussions</journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">WESD</abbrev-journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="nlm-ta">Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss.</abbrev-journal-title>
</journal-title-group>
<issn pub-type="epub">2366-7621</issn>
<publisher><publisher-name></publisher-name>
<publisher-loc>Göttingen, Germany</publisher-loc>
</publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.5194/wes-2025-77</article-id>
<title-group>
<article-title>Wind Tunnel Load Measurements of a Leading-Edge Inflatable Kite Rigid Scale Model</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Poland</surname>
<given-names>Jelle Agatho Wilhelm</given-names>
<ext-link>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3164-5648</ext-link>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
<sup>1</sup>
</xref>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>van Spronsen</surname>
<given-names>Johannes Marinus</given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
<sup>1</sup>
</xref>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Gaunaa</surname>
<given-names>Mac</given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
<sup>2</sup>
</xref>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Schmehl</surname>
<given-names>Roland</given-names>
<ext-link>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4112-841X</ext-link>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
<sup>1</sup>
</xref>
</contrib>
</contrib-group><aff id="aff1">
<label>1</label>
<addr-line>Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS, Delft, the Netherlands</addr-line>
</aff>
<aff id="aff2">
<label>2</label>
<addr-line>Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark</addr-line>
</aff>
<pub-date pub-type="epub">
<day>14</day>
<month>05</month>
<year>2025</year>
</pub-date>
<volume>2025</volume>
<fpage>1</fpage>
<lpage>33</lpage>
<permissions>
<copyright-statement>Copyright: &#x000a9; 2025 Jelle Agatho Wilhelm Poland et al.</copyright-statement>
<copyright-year>2025</copyright-year>
<license license-type="open-access">
<license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this licence, visit <ext-link ext-link-type="uri"  xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</ext-link></license-p>
</license>
</permissions>
<self-uri xlink:href="https://wes.copernicus.org/preprints/wes-2025-77/">This article is available from https://wes.copernicus.org/preprints/wes-2025-77/</self-uri>
<self-uri xlink:href="https://wes.copernicus.org/preprints/wes-2025-77/wes-2025-77.pdf">The full text article is available as a PDF file from https://wes.copernicus.org/preprints/wes-2025-77/wes-2025-77.pdf</self-uri>
<abstract>
<p>Leading-edge inflatable (LEI) kites are morphing aerodynamic surfaces that are actuated by the bridle line system. Their design as tensile membrane structures has several implications for the aerodynamic performance. Because of the pronounced C-shape of the wings, a considerable part of the aerodynamic forces is redirected sideways and used for steering. The inflated tubular frame introduces flow recirculation zones on the pressure side of the wing. In this paper, we present wind tunnel measurements of a 1:6.5 rigid scale model of the 25 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; TU Delft V3 LEI kite developed specifically for airborne wind energy (AWE) harvesting. Because the real kite deforms during flight, the scale model was manufactured to match the well-defined design geometry. Aerodynamic forces and moments were recorded in an open jet wind tunnel over large ranges of angles of attack and sideslip, for five different inflow speeds. The wind tunnel measurements were performed with and without zigzag tape along the model&apos;s leading edge to investigate the possible boundary layer tripping effect of the stitching seam connecting the canopy to the inflated tube. To quantify the quality of the acquired data, the autocorrelation-consistent confidence intervals, coefficient of variation, and measurement repeatability were reported, and the effects of sensor drift and flow-induced vibrations of the test setup at the highest Reynolds number were assessed. A representative subset of the measurements was compared to Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) flow simulations from literature, as well as new simulations conducted with an existing Vortex-Step Method (VSM). In conclusion, the measured aerodynamic characteristics validate both RANS and VSM simulations under nominal kite operating conditions, with both models yielding similar trends and values within a 5 to 10 % range.</p>
</abstract>
<counts><page-count count="33"/></counts>
<funding-group>
<award-group id="gs1">
<funding-source>Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek</funding-source>
<award-id>17628</award-id>
</award-group>
<award-group id="gs2">
<funding-source>HORIZON EUROPE Climate, Energy and Mobility</funding-source>
<award-id>101084216</award-id>
</award-group>
</funding-group>
</article-meta>
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