Industrial Wind Tunnels

Summary

The paper discusses the application of wind tunnels to aircraft design and consideration is given to the potentialities and limitations of types designed specifically for industrial use. Arguments affecting the choice of type, size and speed are stated and a detailed description is given of a particular tunnel which has very steady and even flow with a reasonable turbulence level. This description covers the aerodynamic and engineering design, the electrical driving arrangements and the six-component automatic balance.

A description is also given of a new type of high speed tunnel which has recently been put into operation. This is of the simple straight-through type and is driven by a jet engine acting as an ejector pump; the exhaust heat is used to control humidity and prevent condensation in the working section. This tunnel reaches a Mach No. of 0.9 when empty, and over 0.85 with a model in place. The Reynolds No. is 1.6 x 10⁶ for a three-dimensional half model and 5 x 10⁶ for two-dimensional wings.