Articles tagged with Wind Tunnels
Damiano Baccarella received a $750,000 NASA award to study the extreme environments encountered by hypersonic spacecraft during atmospheric re-entry. He aims to develop novel strategies for experimental characterization of chemical and vibrational non-equilibrium in high-enthalpy hypersonic wind tunnels.
Neuroscientists propose creating controlled research spaces embedded in real-world environments to generate ecological data. This new paradigm aims to accelerate scientific progress and societal impact, enabling the field to address broader cognitive challenges.
Tiny droplets of sea spray can affect hurricane intensity, but measuring their concentration and size is challenging. Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas are using lab experiments and simulations to develop a machine learning model that incorporates these factors.
Researchers at UT will create a wind tunnel to test high-temperature ceramics under hypersonic conditions, crucial for space shuttle development. The project aims to develop new thermal protection system materials and improve workforce capabilities.
Engineers at MIT have developed a physics-based model that accurately represents airflow around rotors under extreme conditions. This new theory has the potential to improve rotor blade designs and optimize wind farm layouts for maximum power output and safety.
A new study by Arizona State University reveals that initial phase sweating can be three times more effective than later phase sweating in terms of evaporation. The researchers developed a wind tunnel-shaped capsule with high-magnification video imagery to capture the dynamics of sweat droplet formation and evaporation on human skin.
The computational results show that tonal sound radiation occurs due to vortex collisions with orifice plates. The vortical structures change with velocity and orifice radius, leading to variations in frequency and sound mode.
Ben-Gurion University scientists propose a unified theory that explains sand ripples on Mars and Earth, suggesting common causes despite different planetary environments. The research was conducted using wind tunnel experiments and reveals the possibility of similar patterns on Earth.
The University of Texas at Dallas' Wind Energy Center is expanding its operations with a new physical headquarters, labs, meeting areas, and office space. The facility will feature cutting-edge equipment, including a wind-wave tunnel and Intelligent Energy Systems Lab.
Researchers are designing a national testing facility to simulate tornadoes, downbursts, and gusts. The NEWRITE project aims to engineer buildings that can withstand extreme winds and reduce structural damage.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization have challenged long-held assumptions about turbulent flows, finding deviations from established scaling laws in highly idealized environments. This discovery has implications for understanding turbulence in engineered flows, weather forecasts, and climate models.
Researchers found near-surface wind direction is highly variable over timescales of less than 10 minutes, especially in urban areas. They hypothesize an optimal range of wind speed and environmental surface complexity helps insects locate odor sources.
Researchers found that zebra finches' short vocalizations during flight are followed by an upward movement of the calling bird, which helps other birds observe its position. The birds also use vision to coordinate horizontal position changes, such as brief shoulder checks, to avoid collisions.
Researchers discovered that salamanders rely on aerial postures similar to skydivers to slow and direct their descent. These 'parachuting' animals use fine-scale control to maintain upright body postures and execute banking turns.
A new laboratory method uses a high-accuracy ball delivery device and speed measurement system to provide better clues on exactly how high and far baseballs will fly. The technique allows for more precision than traditional wind tunnel measurements by firing the baseballs through a line of sensors, measuring the change in speed as they...
Researchers at Mainz University created artificial hailstones using a 3D printer to study their behavior in a vertical wind tunnel. The experiments revealed that the form of hailstones determines their velocity before impact, which can affect the severity of precipitation events.
The 74th APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Annual Meeting featured presentations on COVID-proofing daily life, kimchi physics, and extreme heat waves. Researchers also discussed advancements in fire-fighting trees and the science behind jellyfish engineers.
Researchers from the University of Rhode Island studied the interaction between tornado-strength winds and highway overpasses, finding no evidence of wind acceleration under an overpass. The study, published in Physics of Fluids, suggests that using an overpass as a shelter during a tornado may not be safer than other options.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba tested the new Flight 2020 Soccer Ball, finding it more stable than previous versions but with reduced flight range. The team attributed this tradeoff to increased surface roughness, which may improve the design of future sports equipment.
A team of researchers at the University of Illinois replicated hypersonic flow conditions in a NASA Langley Mach 6 wind tunnel using a numerical simulation. The study aimed to better understand the complexities of hypersonic flows, including pressure, temperature, and fluid velocity.
Researchers at Lund University discovered that butterfly wings exhibit aerodynamic efficiency through a unique wingbeat mechanism. The 'wing clap' creates a backward jet that propels the butterflies forward, while also allowing them to stay aloft.
Researchers developed a new analysis tool called TRAST to predict whirl flutter behavior in tiltrotors. The team will test the TiltRotor Aeroelastic Stability Testbed in a massive wind tunnel to gauge its effectiveness in predicting stability models.
Researchers at the University of Oldenburg generated turbulent flows in a wind tunnel, simulating conditions similar to those encountered in real storms. The team discovered that the wind tunnel flow combines two components into perfect, realistic storm turbulence.
The University of Arizona's wind tunnels will expand experiments on vehicles traveling at the speed of sound and faster, thanks to a $1.7 million funding boost. Researchers will now be able to study unsteady and separated flows in the transonic range, critical for developing future Army and Department of Defense systems.
Professor Maddalena, director of UTA's Aerodynamics Research Center, has been elected a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society for his outstanding contributions to hypersonic research. He is a leading expert in mixing and combustion in turbulent supersonic flows and their application to hypersonic airbreathing propulsion.
The new wing design, dubbed the Separated Flow Airfoil, intentionally separates airflow at the leading edge, reattaching it more consistently before reaching the trailing edge. This enables more efficient, stable flight in turbulent air, resulting in better battery life and longer flight times for small drones.
A team from the University of Tsukuba studied volleyball aerodynamics using wind tunnel experiments and found that standard panels create an asymmetric surface, affecting flight patterns. This research may help develop more efficient drones.
Researchers found that bar-headed geese can fly at altitudes of up to 8500m by reducing their metabolism, increasing oxygen transport per heartbeat and heart rate, and lowering blood temperature. This adaptation allows them to conserve energy and fly efficiently in low-oxygen conditions.
The University of Texas at Arlington's new wind tunnel will be used for Navy grants to develop heat shields for hypersonic vehicles and measure plasma flow. The facility will also house a femtosecond laser system to non-intrusively measure temperature and composition.
Researchers have discovered that dynamic stall at high speeds is characterized by tiny flow structures within a vortex, making it difficult to control. By understanding these turbulent fluctuations, they aim to develop ways to interact with and control the flow field, potentially leading to improved aircraft performance.
Spiders sense wind characteristics before takeoff and launch when conditions favor a successful flight. Large crab spiders use up to 60 nanoscale fibers averaging 3 meters long to float on the wind.
Researchers found that male hummingbirds twist half their tails to aim sound at females, minimizing the Doppler shift effect. This strategic acoustic control allows males to convey speed and agility without revealing their true velocity.
A new study creates a functional map of how the hawkmoth smells, tracing the process from the antennae to specific areas in the brain. The researchers mapped how the moth distinguishes between odors to find a safe place to eat or to lay eggs.
Researchers from Tohoku University found that angling quad-rotor rotors by 20 degrees can reduce pitching by a quarter, improving stability in heavy winds. The study also identified the effects of rotor tilting on pitching moment generation, with outward tilting reducing pitch by 26%.
The University of Arizona has received a nearly $2 million award from the Office of Naval Research to study problems of instability and materials failure for aircraft and missiles flying at hypersonic speeds. Researchers will build two additional wind tunnels to explore laminar-turbulent transition, aerothermodynamic heating, and other...
A new study reveals that the head, upper arms, upper legs, and thighs are significant sources of drag for downhill skiers, with potential applications in designing better ski equipment and improving performance.
Researchers at James Cook University found that complex roof shapes can lead to high forces on connections between the roof and house frame, increasing the risk of roof cladding loss. Poorly maintained houses or minor construction defects can exacerbate this issue.
Researchers found that bees hold their antennae forward in response to increasing air speeds, but also maintain a fixed position when both visual cues and airflow are present. This suggests that bees may be using airflow to calibrate their internal speedometer, helping them estimate distances during flight.
A new model developed by researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University provides a fuller understanding of supercooled large droplet icing mechanisms. The model identifies a different icing mechanism than previously identified and incorporates heat generated from impact thermodynamics.
Researchers found that mosquitoes primarily use smell to detect CO2 plumes from 10-50 meters away, then switch to visual cues as they get closer. Visual and thermal sensory information are combined to create a spatial map of the host's location, allowing mosquitoes to pinpoint their target.
Researchers found that mosquitoes employ a razor-sharp sense of smell to detect warm-blooded prey, triggering vision and other sensory systems. The team used wind tunnels to study mosquito behavior, observing how carbon dioxide triggers a strong response in the insects.
Losing feathers at the wrong time can significantly impact a bird's ability to fly long distances due to increased drag and reduced wing area. The study suggests that migratory birds may need more energy and make additional stopovers if they depart prematurely before fully moulted.
Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology found that following a team car reduces wind resistance and saves crucial seconds. The effect can add up to tens of seconds, making it a game-changer for Tour de France riders in time trials.
Researchers used NASA wind tunnel to study threshold speeds for particle movement on Titan, finding higher speeds than predicted from Earth-based models. The findings can help understand atmospheric forces on icy moons and planets with thin or thick atmospheres.
Research led by Devon Burr shows that Titan's winds must blow faster than previously thought to move sand, explaining the formation of massive dunes. The discovery validates older models for thin atmospheres like comets and asteroids.
New research at Arizona State University's Planetary Aeolian Laboratory found that wind speeds necessary to move sand-size particles on Titan are about 40 percent too low. Dune particles on Titan need winds of at least 3.2 miles per hour to start moving, contradicting previous estimates.
A Purdue University researcher is helping shape plans for a new experiment on the space shuttle Discovery, which will collect data to control deadly friction and heating. The experiment aims to design more efficient spacecraft and hypersonic aircraft.
Researchers discovered that Martian rock arrangements are not caused by alien hands, but rather by wind-driven processes. As the sand is eroded, larger clasts move into the direction of prevailing winds and spread out from one another.
Researchers use a foot-long model in a quiet wind tunnel to study airflow over the X-51A vehicle, focusing on turbulent flow into the engine's combustor and smooth airflow over the upper surface. The findings will aid in designing vehicles that can fly at hypersonic speeds, reducing friction and heat generated during flight.
New NIST study reveals portable radios can't withstand high-temp fires without protective gear, posing communication risks to firefighters. Radios inside pockets or gear fared better, but exposed components failed quickly.
Researchers use Purdue's unique wind tunnel to study airflow and turbulence, aiming to design aircraft that heat up less from atmospheric friction. The goal is to create lighter-weight, lower-cost vehicles for space planes using scramjets.
Engineers use new anechoic wind tunnel to study and reduce airframe noise caused by plane wings, flaps, and landing gear. The $400,000 facility helps address increasing noise-related problems with growing air travel worldwide.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has reanalyzed the wind loads that the World Trade Center (WTC) towers were originally designed to resist, finding that the values used in the design exceed those established by building codes prior to 1968. The study suggests that the WTC towers' reserve capacity to withstand u...
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has developed a low-cost method to fabricate scale models for aerodynamic wind tunnel tests. The alternative approach uses non-metallic materials like engineering polymers and thermoset resins, enabling program managers to obtain high-quality data at a fraction of the cost of trad...
Purdue University researchers are constructing a Mach 6 wind tunnel to study supersonic airflow and its effects on aircraft. The new facility will conduct experiments in airstreams traveling at six times the speed of sound, producing a quiet-flow Reynolds number of 13 million.