Wind Tunnel Laboratory

The Wind Tunnel Lab is located within a complex housing the wind tunnel and propulsion facilities. This space is a laboratory used for both research and teaching of classes related to aerodynamics. The facility allows students both a theoretical and hands-on approach to learning. The laboratory houses seven wind tunnels. The wind tunnels are equipped with multi-component force balances for aerodynamic measurement. Additional equipment includes hot wire anemometers, pressure scanners and various flow probes. Water tunnels are available for flow visualization as well as a water table for approximating shock wave behavior. A blow down supersonic wind tunnel (capable of Mach 3.5) is also available for visualizing shockwaves using a Shadowgraph/Schlieren system. Areas of research include flow control, configuration design, low Reynolds number aerodynamics, high lift devices, etc.

Equipment

• Two 1' x 1' wind tunnels (equipped with 3 and 6 component platform balances)
• One 2' x 2' blower wind tunnel (equipped with 6 component sting balance)
• One 4’ by 4’ closed circuit wind tunnel (equipped with a 6 component Pyramidal balance and a 6 component sting balance)
• One 2" x 4" supersonic wind tunnel
• One 10 mm by 12mm continuous indraft supersonic wind tunnel (M = 2)
• One 5" by 12" smoke flow visualization tunnel
• Two water tunnels (with dye injection systems)
• One water table