Project Proposal Defense

Project Title:
Design of Wind Tunnel

By
Anuj Shrestha (060bme604)
Manish Rijal (060bme614)
Santosh Sharma (060bme632)
 contents
• What is a wind tunnel?
• How it works?
• Types of wind tunnel.
• Aerodynamics.
• Uses of wind tunnel.
• What studies can be carried out?
• Objectives of project.
• Expected outcome.
• Technical specification.
• Methodology.
• Action plan on weekly basis (Gantt chart).
• Final task.
• Budgeting.
• Conclusion.
 What is a wind tunnel?
• A wind tunnel is a research tool developed to
assist with studying the effects of air moving
over or around solid objects.
• It may also be called as a facility, by artificially
producing airflow relative to a stationary body
that measures aerodynamic force and pressure
distribution to simulate with actual conditions.
• Wind-tunnels represent a useful tool for
investigating various flow phenomena.
 How it works?
• A wind tunnel is specially designed to suck or
blow air.
• The design is made such that a high velocity is
developed at a section where test is done
called as test section.
• The test material is generally a replica of the
object to be studied, is kept in the test section
and different readings are taken to perform
different research works.
• Accessories for the study of flow: Threads,
Pitot tube Probes, Dye or smoke
 Types of wind tunnel
Based on architecture
open circuit tunnels closed circuit tunnels
• No guided return of air. • Guided return of air.

Based on wind speed

Subsonic Supersonic
M: 0.0-0.7 M: 1.2-5

Transonic Hypersonic
M: 0.7-1.2 M: >5

M=Mach number
 Aerodynamics
• Aerospace engineering
• It is a significant factor in any type of vehicle design, including
automobiles.
• Prediction of forces and moments in sailing.
• Structural engineers use aerodynamics, and particularly aero-elasticity,
to calculate wind loads in the design of large buildings and bridges.
• Urban aerodynamics seeks to help town planners and designers
improve comfort in outdoor spaces, create urban microclimates and
reduce the effects of urban pollution.
• The field of environmental aerodynamics studies the ways
atmospheric circulation and flight mechanics affects ecosystems.
• The aerodynamics of internal passages is important in
heating/ventilation, gas piping, and in automotive engines where
detailed flow patterns strongly affect the performance of the engine.

And all aerodynamic tests is performed in a wind tunnel.

 Uses of wind tunnel
• Measure aerodynamic property(ies).
• Simulate with actual conditions.
• Lets safely take measurements which are
impossible to make at the actual condition.
• Test can be performed under controlled
conditions, which were difficult with traditional
winds or whirling arm.
• Long duration of tests which were impossible by
any other equipments.
 What studies can be carried out?
• Drag/Lift measurements on aircraft, helicopters, missiles,
racing cars.
• Drag/Lift/Moment characteristics of airfoils and wings.
• Static stability of aircraft and missiles
• Dynamic stability derivatives of aircraft
• Surface Pressure distributions on nearly all systems.
• Flow visualizations (with smoke, oil, talcum).
• Propeller performances (torque, thrust, power, efficiency,
etc.).
• Performances of air-breathing engines.
• Wind effects on buildings, towers, bridges, automobiles.
• Heat transfer properties of engines and aircraft.
 Objectives of the project
• To form a basis for complete design of a
wind tunnel.
• Understanding the basic of aerodynamics.
• Studying the characteristics of flow in the
tunnel.
• The completion of project would
accelerate the interests of individual and
institutions in the field of aerodynamics.
 Expected outcomes
• Design and calculations
• This will strengthen the interest of students towards
the field.
• This would open a new field in design of airfoils in
the country itself.
• After the completion of project interested institution
or individual can built their own wind tunnel with the
locally available materials.
• This project will prove itself as a milestone in the
field of aerodynamics research in Nepal.
 Technical Specification
• Rough estimation of the size we are trying to design is in shown in the orthographic
view below.
•Size is effected by space limitations, what we are going to test and cost.
Parts:
Settling chamber, compressor, test section, diffuser and drive section.

All dimensions are in inch

 methodology
• Literature review. (searching books, manuals and visiting experts.)
• Studying of axial fan. (about the velocity it can generate and
power required)

• Initial design (design calculations and detailed drawings of components)

• Building a wind tunnel model (scale- 1:3) (fabrication based
on initial design)

• Model wind tunnel study (viewing the flow using threads, smoke)
• Optimization of Design (changes in design based on model study)
• Final Design (detailed design with suggestion of materials for the building
prototype)
 Action plan in weekly basis
Gantt chart
Chaitra Baisakh Jestha Asar Shravan Bhadra Ashwin Kartik
2063 2064 2064 2064 2064 2064 2064 2064
activity
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4

Literature review

study about axial fan

initial design work

building a proto-type
wind tunnel

testing the wind tunnel

optimization of Design

final
design

The action plan may have certain changes in accordance to our academic calendar.
 Final task
• Study of wind tunnel
• Design and Calculation
• Material selection for prototype design.
• Complete design and suggestion for
fabricating prototype.
• Preparation of report and final presentation.
 Budgeting

• Nrs 11000/- for simple wind tunnel model

fabrication.
• Nrs 2000/- for stationary items.
• Nrs 2000/- for miscellaneous.

Total: Nrs 15000/-

 conclusion
• An old concept but it is still an effective tool for
almost all aerodynamic tests and researches.
• Design will open the doors for farther aerodynamic
research in Nepal.
• A complete design and building a model just meets
the criterion of our final year project.

A meaningful project.
Questions