The Aerospace Department Wind Tunnels lab is used for both academic instruction and university affiliated research and it contains four main wind tunnels and a small water tunnel (under construction) for the visualization purposes.

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Figure 1: 2D subsonic wind tunnel

Figure 1 shows an open circuit tunnel with a 20 cm x 48 cm closed test section. A 4 horsepower motor produces a maximum velocity of 15 m/s through the test section. Turbulence levels have been determined to be < 5% throughout the velocity range. Mainly it is used for pressure measurements around two dimensional objects.

Figure 2: Open section wind tunnel

Figure 2: Open section wind tunnel

Figure 2The open section wind tunnel has a 75 cm x 75 cm test section with 50 horsepower motor produces a maximum velocity 25 m/s through the test section. It is mainly used for the forces and pressure measurements of three dimensional objects inside and outside the test section.

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Figure 3: 3D subsonic wind tunnel

 

Figure 3 shows the 3D subsonic wind tunnel which is an open circuit tunnel equipped with 100 horsepower motor and produces velocities up to 45 m/sec. It has a test section of dimensions 0.8 m x 1.2 m x 2.5 m equipped with three component wind tunnel balance capable of measuring lift force, drag force and pitching moment.

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Figure 4: Different experiments have been executed in the Aerodynamic lab

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Purpose

  • Train students on basic fluid mechanics and aerodynamics experiments.
  • Study of the flow field about airplane and streamlined shapes in subsonic speeds
  • Pressure, velocity and aerodynamic force measurement techniques as well as flow visualization techniques.
  • Validation of the numerical and theoretical results 

Wind Tunnels:

Wind Tunnel Test Section Type Max Speed
Main Wind Tunnel 0.8 1.2 2.5 Open Circuit 34
Two-Dimensional Wind Tunnel 0.5 0.2 1.15 Open Circuit 27.1
Two-Dimensional Wind Tunnel 0.4 0.4 1.07 Open Circuit 33.8
Blow Down Wind Tunnel 0.85 0.75 1.0 Open Circuit 24
Acoustic Wind Tunnel 0.3 0.1 0.2 Open Circuit 100
Test Section Dimensions [H×W×L][m]
Max Speed [m/sec]