VARIOUS TYPES OF WIND

TUNNELS

Dileep P Menon (163010034)

Manohar Sonwan (163010048)
 CONTENTS
Introduction
Low speed wind tunnel
Open circuit wind tunnel
Components of open circuit wind tunnel
Inlet/Settling chamber
Contraction section
Test section
Diffuser section
Fan section
Closed circuit wind tunnel
Transonic wind tunnel
Schematic and brief description of transonic wind tunnel
Layout of test section
Supersonic wind tunnel
Components of supersonic wind tunnel
Air storage tank
Settling chamber/Wide angle diffuser
Convergent-Divergent nozzle
Diffuser
Intermittent supersonic wind tunnel
Blow down type
Indraft
Continuous supersonic windtunnel
Operation of closed circuit supersonic wind tunnel
Worlds largest wind tunnel
Historical images of wind tunnel 2
References
 INTRODUCTION
A wind tunnel is an apparatus that allows researchers to move air over a body to
simulate flight and analyze aerodynamic properties of the flow such as lift and drag.
Wind tunnels are designed to deliver a consistent, steady stream of air to the test
section and minimize turbulence.
Types of wind tunnel:
1. Subsonic(Low speed)
a. Open circuit
i) Suction type
ii) Blow type
b. Closed circuit
2. Transonic
3. Supersonic
a. Intermittent
i) Blow down
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ii) Indraft
b. Continuous
 1. LOW SPEED WIND TUNNEL
Low speed or subsonic wind tunnels are used for operations at very low Mach
number
The speed in the test section upto 134 m/s (M =0.4)
The flow condition is incompressible through out the tunnel

Fig. 1 Different types of low speed wind tunnels in Onera, France

(Source: Onera.fr)
 1. A. OPEN CIRCUIT WIND TUNNEL
The open circuit wind tunnel takes air from the upstream ambient air and discharges
to the ambient air downstream
Open circuit wind tunnels do not directly re-circulate air
A good quality tunnel will have a flow uniformity of 0.5-2% and turbulence
intensity of 0.5-2%
It is divided into two types
Blow Type - The fan is situated upstream of test-section
Suction Type - The fan is situated downstream of test section

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 Fig 2. Suction type wind tunnel

Fig 3. Blow type wind tunnel to study wind loading on tall buildings 6
 COMPONENTS OF OPEN CIRCUIT WIND
TUNNEL
Inlet / Settling Chamber
Contraction section
Test Section
Diffuser Section
Fan Section

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 INLET/SETTLING CHAMBER
Large space to lower the airflow speed and to manage in uniform distribution and
lower turbulence intensity
The role of the settling chamber, which is upstream of the contraction area, is to
eliminate swirl and unsteadiness of the flow
Honey comb structure is used to reduce size of the turbulent structure
Behind the honeycomb, anti turbulent screens are located which further dissipates
the turbulent structure

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Fig 4. Settling chamber and honeycomb structure (Source: grc.nasa)
 CONTRACTION SECTION
To accelerate the flow speed to reach desirable level in the test section
Reduces both mean and fluctuating velocity variation to a smaller fraction of the
average velocity
Reduces spatial variations of the velocity in the wind tunnel across section

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Fig. 5. Contraction cone (Source: grc.nasa)
 TEST SECTION
The deciding factor for almost every component of the wind tunnel is the size of the
test section , which in turn is determined by size of object to be tested
It provides desirable flow condition and space for model testing for experiment,
where the instrumentation are situated

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Fig. 6. Test section of wind tunnel with model
 DIFFUSER SECTION
A device to lower the air flow speed, consequently reduce the pressure loss due to
friction
It is necessary to reduce any air turbulence that could leak back into the test section

Fig. 7. Diffuser section

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 FAN SECTION
Provides a pressure increase of flow, to overcome the pressure loss in tunnel circuit

Fig. 8. Fan section located downstream of tunnel

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 1. B. CLOSED CIRCUIT WIND TUNNEL
In closed return wind tunnel, air is conducted from the exit of the test section back
to fan by a series of turning vanes
The air is returned to the contraction section and back through the test section, and
in this manner, continuous circulation of air is achieved through the tunnel
This type of tunnel is also called Prandtl tunnel, after the German engineer, Ludwig
Prandtl

Fig. 9. Schematic of a closed return wind tunnel

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 2. TRANSONIC WIND TUNNEL
Transonic flow study represents one of the most difficult problems in compressible
fluid dynamics. In a stationary transonic flow, subsonic and supersonic regions live
at same time
Transonic regime leads to important flow behavior such as shock waves and
expansion waves interaction, shock waves and boundary layer interaction, shock
unsteadiness and it is therefore widely studied
Important applications of these studies are in commercial airplanes working at
transonic regime
The typical near sonic wind tunnel is basically a high powered subsonic wind tunnel
It is normally a closed circuit, fan driven tunnel with continuous operation
capability where the test section has the minimum cross-section of the tunnel circuit

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Fig. 10. Schematic of a transonic wind tunnel
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 SCHEMATIC AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
TRANSONIC WIND TUNNEL

Fig. 11. Schematic of components of a transonic wind tunnel

BD, the blower and dryer module is used to remove humidity from the air to
avoid condensation in the test section and to pressurize the feeding tank before
each run
FT, the feeding tank is where the dry and pressurized air is stored before the
run. Here it is possible to control and change the initial conditions as well as
control the temperature of the air
TS, the test section, which is the main part of the wind tunnel includes the
settling chamber before the contraction, the contraction itself, and the test
chamber where the model is mounted
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 SCHEMATIC AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
TRANSONIC WIND TUNNEL
VT, the vacuum tank is downstream of the test section. Time available for each
run depends on tank volume and pressure (as close as possible to vacuum) and
for this reason it is a very important module of the wind tunnel. Another vital
component is the valve between the test section and the vacuum tank, which
acts as the main switch of the wind tunnel and it should therefore be as quick
as possible to maximize the run time
VP, the vacuum pump, is used to suck out air from the vacuum tank. Two
characteristics of the pump are very important: the minimum pressure the pump
can create that determines the initial pressure of the tank (and therefore the run
time) and the velocity that affects the time needed to suck the air, which
determines the minimum time between two subsequent runs

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 LAYOUT OF TEST SECTION

Fig. 12. Schematic of test section of a transonic wind tunnel

SC, the settling chamber is composed of different units where each one has got
a grid, or screen, to reduce the turbulence with the aim to increase the quality
of the flow.
C, is the convergent cone. The contraction in this wind tunnel is composed by
two different two dimensional contractions because both the initial section and
the test section are square.
TC , is the proper test chamber of the wind tunnel. It has an uniform and square
section with the possibility to easily change the upper and lower walls. In this
way it will be possible to change and test different configurations.
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 LAYOUT OF TEST SECTION
Ch, the choke of the wind tunnel is the smallest cross-sectional area. The possibility
to modify this area is used to regulate the velocity of the flow (the Mach number) in
the test section
D , the diffuser , aims to recover the pressure and reduce the speed principally in
order to reduce losses of pressure. The decrease of speed is usually through shock
waves
Vv is the main valve of the wind tunnel and it is the valve that starts the runs and for
this reason it has to be very quick

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 3. SUPERSONIC WIND TUNNEL
A supersonic wind tunnel is a wind tunnel that produces supersonic speeds
The range of mach number is 1.2<M<5.0
The mach number and flow are determined by nozzle geometry
A supersonic wind tunnel has a large power demand, so that most are designed for intermittent
instead of continuous operation
It consists of two types namely
Intermittent
Continuous
The problems in the operation of the supersonic wind are
Condensation
The air isoentropically expands to higher mach number in test section, hence the temperature falls
The air becomes super cooled and moisture will condense
Drying the working fluid is the best way to avoid condensation
Liquifaction
In a manner parallel to condensation, the components of air liquefy when proper pressure and temperatue
conditions are met
Liquefaction troubles might start around M=4 if high pressure air is expaned from room temperature
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 COMPONENTS OF SUPERSONIC WIND
TUNNEL
Air storage tank
Settling chamber/wide angle diffuser
Convergent-divergent nozzle
Diffuser

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Fig. 13. Schematic of a intermittent blow down type supersonic wind tunnel
 AIR STORAGE TANK
Size of storage tank depends on the mass flow required and frequency of runs
Tanks are painted black to absorb heat
They are provided with pressure relief valve

SETTLING CHAMBER
Wide angle diffuser lead the flow to the settling chamber
The high-pressure air in the storage tank expands and settles down in the settling
chamber, where the air slows down and is kept at constant pressure
Downstream of settling chamber is convergent-divergent nozzle

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 CONVERGENT-DIVERGENT NOZZLE(C-D
NOZZLE)
The C-D nozzle forms the heart of supersonic wind tunnel
For generating supersonic flow in test section, it is essential that there is a C-D nozzle in
the tunnel circuit before the test section
The area ratio of C-D nozzle uniquely decides the mach number

DIFFUSER
In order to avoid shocks and expansion waves at exit of nozzle, diffusers are provided
Diffuser of suitable design is required for reducing the pressure ratio while operating the
wind tunnel
The power required to run the wind tunnel increase with pressure ratio
In supersonic wind tunnels most commonly used diffuser is a convergent-divergent
type(also called the second throat diffuser)

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 3.A. INTERMITTENT SUPERSONIC WIND
TUNNEL
The power required to run a supersonic wind tunnel is enormous, of the order
50MW per square meter of the test section cross-sectional area.
For this reason, most wind tunnels are operated intermittently using energy stored in
high pressure tank. These wind tunnels are called intermittent supersonic blow down
wind tunnels
Another way of achieving the huge power output is with the use of vacuum storage
tank. These tunnels are called indraft supersonic wind tunnels

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Fig. 14. Schematic of a blow down type supersonic wind tunnel

Fig. 15. Schematic of a indraft supersonic wind tunnel

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 3.B. CONTINUOUS SUPERSONIC WIND
TUNNEL
The continuous wind tunnels are essentially a closed circuit system and can be used
to achieve a wide range of mach numbers
The very large power required for the operation of supersonic wind tunnel is
attributed to the large operating pressure ratio

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Fig. 16. Schematic of a continuous supersonic wind tunnel
 OPERATION OF CONTINUOUS SUPERSONIC
WIND TUNNEL
As the wind tunnel is started, the flow through it begins as subsonic and as the
pressure ratio is increased the nozzle is choked
Further increase in the pressure ratio causes shock to be formed in the divergent
section
The diffuser throat area must be larger than the nozzle throat area
A cooler is included prior to the compressor because compressor work is
proportional to the intake temperature
The pressure ratio for the starting the wind tunnel is corresponding to the normal
shock losses at the test section mach number
Hence the power required can be considerably reduced by incorporating the well
designed diffuser

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Fig. 17. Schematic of operation of a continuous supersonic wind tunnel
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 WORLDS LARGEST WIND TUNNEL
The largest wind tunnel in the world is at NASA's Ames Research Center
This a subsonic tunnel which can test planes with wing spans of up to
100 feet
It is over 1,400 feet long and 180 feet high
It has two test sections: one 80 feet high and 120 feet wide, the other 40
feet high and 80 feet wide
Air is driven through these test sections by six 15-bladed fans
Each fan has a diameter equal to the height of a four-story building
The fans are powered by six 22,500-horsepower motor

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 SIX FANS, FIFTEEN BLADES EACH OF
THE WORLDS LARGEST WIND TUNNEL
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IN AMES RESEARCH CENTER, NASA
THE LARGEST PARACHUTE EVER BUILT TO FLY ON AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL
MISSIONFOR NASA'S CURIOSITY MISSION TO MARSINSIDE THE
WORLD'S LARGEST WIND TUNNEL, AT NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER,
2009.
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HISTORICAL IMAGES OF WIND TUNNELS

1922, THE VARIABLE DENSITY TUNNEL AT NASA'S LANGLEY RESEARCH

CENTER. IT WAS THE WORLD'S FIRST VARIABLE DENSITY WIND TUNNEL
THAT ALLOWED ACCURATE TESTING WITH SMALL-SCALE MODELS. 32
1934, ANNUAL AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING CONFERENCE GROUP PHOTO IN
THE FULL-SCALE WIND TUNNEL AT NASA LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER.

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A TECHNICIAN PREPARES TO UNLATCH THE DOOR BUILT INTO THE GUIDE
VANES OF THE 16-FOOT TRANSONIC WIND TUNNEL AT NASA LANGLEY
RESEARCH CENTER. THIS TUNNEL, ONE OF DOZENS OF RESEARCH
FACILITIES AT LANGLEY, WAS BUILT IN 1939 34
THE WIND TUNNEL AT THE NASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTER, IN 1944

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 INSIDE THE 16-FOOT SUPERSONIC WIND TUNNEL OF THE PROPULSION
WIND TUNNEL FACILITY, ARNOLD ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT CENTER,
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN., 1960
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 A RARE PHOTOGRAPH OF A LARGE TU-144 SCALE MODEL IN A WIND
TUNNEL. THE SOVIET SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT WAS DESIGNED
BY THE TUPOLEV BUREAU, AND THE DESIGN WAS UNVEILED IN 1962
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THE SMALLER, 10X10 FOOT WIND TUNNEL TEST SECTION AT NASA'S GLENN
RESEARCH CENTER, IN 1964 38
LASER DOPPLER VELOCIMETER TEST IN THE 8X6 FOOT WIND TUNNEL AT
NASA'S GLENN RESEARCH CENTER, 1979
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THE 16-FOOT FAIRING AND TURNING VANES OF THE 16-FOOT TRANSONIC
WIND TUNNEL OF LANGLEY AFTER REHABILITATION, IN 1990 40
THE WORLD'S LARGEST AUTOMOTIVE WIND TUNNEL AT THE GENERAL
MOTORS AERODYNAMICS LABORATORY AUGUST 4, 2010 IN WARREN,
MICHIGAN. THE TUNNEL FEATURES A 43-FOOT DIAMETER FAN
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 REFERENCE
http://windtunnel.onera.fr/
http://www.aerolab.com/products/open-circuit-wind-tunnels/
https://www.grc.nasa.gov
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsonic_and_transonic_wind_tunnel
https://www.nasa.gov/
http://gizmodo.com/28-gorgeous-wind-tunnels-that-will-blow-you-away-510665017
Anderson J. D., Modern Compressible Flow with Historical Perspective, McGraw-
Hill Inc., New York, 1990

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THANK YOU

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