Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
The Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel is a closed-circuit wind tunnel capable of generating wind speeds up to 110 mph. It has an aerodynamic section and a boundary layer section. The boundary layer section is 6 ft. wide and 4 ft. high, and has 58 feet of upstream fetch for development of desired boundary layer flow.
Major instruments available in the wind tunnel include Cobra probes, force transducers, laser displacement sensors and a Scanivalve system for wind, displacement, force and pressure measurements, respectively. The wind tunnel is also equipped with a particle image velocimetry system and a smoke generator for flow visualization.
Testing has included wind-induced vibration of cables on cable-stayed bridges, traffic signal support structures and evaluation of wind loading on sign structures.
(Above)- The main fan that runs the NWI Wind Tunnel platform is exposed during renovation and relocation from general campus.
The boundary wind tunnel at TTU NWI research facilities.
A section model of stay cable tested in the wind tunnel.
National Wind Institute
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Address
1009 Canton Ave., MS 3155 Lubbock, TX 79409-3155 -
Phone
National Wind Institute - 806.742.3476; Renewable Energy - 806.742.6284 -
Email
National Wind Institute - nwi@ttu.edu; Renewable Energy - windenergy@ttu.edu