Fundamentals of Wind Tunnel

 

Wind tunnel testing

The air, though unseen, is a very powerful force. The way it flows and the strength with which it flows affect us tremendously. The shape of the wings of an aircraft allows the airflow on top of the wing to flow faster and that helps the plane to fly. Strong winds on the upper floors of a high-rise building can cause great damage if the building is not properly designed. 

But how were the wings of a plane designed in such a way? How are buildings designed to withstand the destructive force of wind during a powerful storm? The information required to make them possible has come about through proper measurements and wind testing. 

The Wind Tunnel

In very simple terms, a wind tunnel is a rather long tube enclosed in metal, glass, or even an entire building. The tunnel is equipped with powerful fans at both ends: one to blow air into the tunnel and the other to push air out of the tunnel. Wind tunnel testing facilities make it possible for scale models of buildings, planes, spacecraft, sailing vessels and even motorbikes to be tested. Some wind tunnels are very small – the size of a small table or desk. Others are extremely large and can even test full-sized motor vehicles. 


Types of Wind Tunnels

There are two kinds of wind tunnels:

  • Open Wind Tunnel – Draws air from the ambient and releases it back to the ambient 

  • Closed-Loop Tunnel – Internal air is circulated in a loop making it possible to control air temperature. It is composed of:

  • Test section

  • Settling section or chamber

  • Contraction section or area

  • Diffuser

Uses of Wind Tunnel Tests

Wind tunnel testing helps manufacturers, architects, engineers, inventors, scientists, project managers and building designers to better understand how the flow of air or wind moves over and around an object or structure and also the way it affects the object or structure. Engineers who design air or spacecraft use wind testing to measure the craft’s stability, lift and drag. The results they get help to improvetheir designs for better, safer, faster, and most affordable designs. 

For architects and building designers, wind tunnels help them design more robust buildings that can withstand hurricane-force winds, better ventilation systems, and better understand how airflow around their designs affects other surrounding structures. 

From planes to buildings, cars to bicycles, wind tunnels play an important role in improving safety, stability, and cost-effectiveness in design.

 


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