Low Speed Wind Tunnel
The wind tunnel, located in the Wind & Flow Laboratory, is a low speed wind tunnel capable of sustained wind velocities up to approximately 43 mph (69 km/h ) and a Reynolds number of the magnitude 1e+05. The test section measures 12" (30 cm) by 12" (30 cm) by 72" (180 cm). We are currently putting our efforts into acquiring instrumentation and configuring the data acquisition system for the wind tunnel.
Prior to its installation at the Idaho Falls Center for Higher Education, the wind tunnel had been in service at the UI's main campus in Moscow for several decades. In June 1998 the apparatus was moved from Moscow to Idaho Falls. After moving, efforts focused on reassembling and refurbishing the wind tunnel. It was again operational as of February 1999.
Since its establishment in February, the wind tunnel has facilitated dissertation studies in areas related to wind energy and the design of advanced bicycle wheels, as well as evaluations in noise measurement and control.
In addition to its uses for student projects, the wind tunnel has been assembled and refurbished to serve as a research facility for governmment and privately sponsored projects. The versatility of this system provides excellent possibilities for research in areas related to classical fluid flow, fluid dynamics, flow visualization and measurement, and the fundamentals of wind tunnel characteristics and design.
