A new wind tunnel for industrial aerodynamics

A new wind tunnel of closed return configuration designed specifically for industrial aerodynamic testing is described and its performance is discussed. It has a working section 3 m wide × 1.5 m high × 8.1 m long with a maximum empty tunnel wind speed of 26 m s−1 provided by its 57 kW variable speed electric motor. Various devices to generate simulated atmospheric shear flows can be fitted at the upstream end of the working section. Full-depth atmospheric boundary layer simulations at 1450 scale have been achieved and part-depth simulations at 1200 scale or 14 scale motor car model tests are practical in this tunnel. The tunnel is of simple design and construction, and was built at a cost of approximately £16 000 at 1972–1973 U.K. prices.