Wind Tunnel Laboratory

The Wind Tunnel Laboratory covers a vast speed range (from subsonic to supersonic flows) to demonstrate aerodynamic principles from the fundamentals through to advanced theories. Tests can be undertaken on scale models such as aircraft wing sections, to larger models such as motor cars and wind turbines.

Subsonic wind tunnels teach students the basics about lift, drag and pitching moments, plus the high-level topics such as the boundary layer, pressure distribution around models, and wake investigations.

Students can develop instrumentation and technical skills through a range of applications, including:

AF100 Subsonic Wind Tunnel

A compact, free-standing open-circuit suction subsonic wind tunnel with a working section of 305 mm by 305 mm and 600 mm long, allowing students to perform advanced study such as analysing boundary layers, performing flow visualisation and observing velocity in the wake, offering extensive teaching and research functionality.

AF300 Supersonic Wind Tunnel

An intermittent supersonic (up to Mach 1.8) wind tunnel for investigations into subsonic and supersonic air flow around two dimensional models. Supersonic wind tunnels are for the more advanced teaching of aerodynamic engineering, with experiments that start with nozzle pressure distribution, on to analysis of Mach numbers, and the measurement and visualisation of pressure and shock waves using Schlieren apparatus.