Key Features:

• A cost-effective solution when compared to full-scale wind tunnels or airborne laboratories
• Operates at meaningful Reynolds numbers
• Safe, open-circuit suction design
• Package includes three-component balance, angle feedback unit, dual differential pressure display, 32-way pressure display unit, Pitot static traverse, X/Y Pitot static traverse, protractor, model holder and data acquisition (VDAS-F)
• High levels of safety
• Controls and instrumentation conveniently mount on a separate, free-standing frame

Description:

• Air passes into the AF1600 through a honeycomb flow straightener and a grille. It then passes into an aerodynamically designed eff user (cone) that accelerates the air in a linear manner before it moves through the working section.
• Finally it passes through a diffuser, then into the variable speed axial fan. The grille protects the fan from damage by loose objects. The air leaves the fan, passes through a silencer unit and then back out to atmosphere.
• The speed of the axial fan (and therefore the air velocity in the working section) is controlled by an electronic drive control in the separate On/Off unit mounted on the tunnel’s associated instrument frame along with other ancillaries.

Learning Outcomes:

• Flow past bluff and streamlined bodies with pressure and velocity observations in the wake
• Investigations into boundary layer development
• Influence of aspect ratio on aerofoil performance
• Pressure distribution around a cylinder under sub and super-critical flow conditions
• Study of characteristics of models involving basic measurement of lift and drag forces
• Study of the characteristics of three-dimensional aerofoils involving measurements of lift, drag and pitching moment
• Study of the pressure distribution around an aerofoil model to derive the lift, and comparison with direct measurements of lift
• Drag force on a bluff body normal to an air flow
• Flow visualisation