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Low-Speed Wind Tunnel | College of Engineering, WSU

Wallace Hall

Low-Speed Wind Tunnel (3'x4')

Located in the Wallace Hall Annex (Room 140)

Low-Speed Wind Tunnel

The 3-foot by 4-foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel is an experimental facility in the Department of Aerospace Engineering within the College of Engineering at WSU. The wind tunnel is an atmospheric, open return, closed-throat, subsonic wind tunnel. There are two testing sections available, including:

  • A 7-foot by 10-foot upstream test section.
  • A 3-foot by 4-foot main test section, which is open to student class projects, senior capstone projects and undergraduate and graduate student research, as well as industry projects.

Additional Information

Specifications

Upstream Test Section

  • Dimension (W/H/L): 2.1 x 3 x 4.9 m. (7 x 10 x 16 ft)
  • Maximum Dynamic Pressure: 40 Pa. (0.8 psf)
  • Maximum Flow Speed: 8 m/s. (26 ft/s)

Main Test Section

  • Dimension (W/H/L): 0.9 x 1.2 x 3.6 m. (3 x 4 x 12 ft)
  • Maximum Dynamic Pressure: 1500 Pa (32 psf) Regular / 1800 Pa (38 psf) with limited run time.
  • Maximum Flow Speed: 50 m/s (164 ft/s) Regular / 55 m/s (180 ft/s) with limited run time.
  • Turbulence Intensity: ~ 0.2% Measured by Hotwire Anemometry at 15 m/s.
  • 2 Axis Sting Mount: +/- 22 Pitch and +/- 45  

Test Equipment

Six Axis Force Balance

2 x ATI Mini-40 IP 68

  • SI-40-2
    • Maximum Force Loading: 40 N (X, Y) 120N (Z)
    • Force Resolution: 1/100 N
    • Maximum Torque Loading: 2 N.m (X, Y, Z)
    • Torque Resolution: 1/4000 N.m
  • SI-80-4
    • Maximum Force Loading: 80 N (X, Y) 240N (Z)
    • Force Resolution: 1/50 N
    • Maximum Torque Loading: 4 N.m (X, Y, Z)
    • Torque Resolution: 1/2000 N.m

ATI Mini-45

  • SI-145-5
    • Maximum Force Loading: 145 N (X, Y) 290N (Z)
    • Force Resolution: 1/16 N
    • Maximum Torque Loading: 5 N.m (X, Y, Z)
    • Torque Resolution: 1/752 N.m
  • SI-580-20
    • Maximum Force Loading: 580 N (X, Y) 1160N (Z)
    • Force Resolution: 1/4 N
    • Maximum Torque Loading: 4 N.m (X, Y, Z)
    • Torque Resolution: 1/188 N.m

Hotwire Anemometry

  • 2 x Dantec Mini-CTA with Thin-coated and Heavy-coated Hotwire Prob.
  • TSA Hot-fiber Film Anemometer.

Pressure Transducer

  • Scanivalve MPS 4216 Miniature Pressure Scanners (16 Channel)
    • Maximum Pressure: 2000 Pa
  • 14 Channel Pressure Sensor

Data Acquisition System

  • NI-USB-6212 BNC DAQ
  • D-Space Micro Lab Box II (64 channel)
  • 16 Bit A2D DAQ

Flow Visualization Capability

  • Yarn and String Tufts
  • Oil Flow
  • Smoke Flow

Questions?

If you have questions about the Low-Speed Wind Tunnel or would like to utilize the 3-foot by 4-foot testing section, you may call the Department of Aerospace Engineering at (316) 978-3410 or contact  Dr. Suresh Keshavanarayana.

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