Acoustics Laboratory Facilities
Low Noise Wind Tunnel
Test Facilities
The low noise wind tunnel is part of the open circuit wind tunnel facility in the laboratories of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The arrangement of this facility is shown below. The tunnel is powered by a 1.2m diameter 50kW Woods two stage contra-rotating fan unit with pneumatic blade pitch control. The low noise wind tunnel which is used for acoustic flow studies is located on the mezzanine level. The working section is 0.76m square by 2.44m long. The working section can be readily changed from a closed to an open jet. A maximum flow rate of 27m3/s provides a mean speed of 40m/s in the low noise working section.
Air Flow Measurement Equipment
The wind tunnel facilities are equipped with DISA and TSI and laboratory developed, miniature hot wire anemometers and associated calibration and repair equipment; computer controlled probe positioning and data handling; smoke generator and helium bubble flow visualization equipment. A Kodak MegaPlug digital video camera system with imaging software (EPIX) together with modulating and non-modulating light sheets complements the flow visualization facilities. Various airflow anemometers and manometers are also available.
Noise Measuring Equipment
The low noise working section used for aero acoustic studies is supported by a well-equipped acoustics laboratory utilizing a range of Bruel and Kjaer sound analyzer systems. Microphones, amplifiers, signal generators, narrow band analysers, cables and calibration equipment are also available together with a range of microphone nose cones to reduce wind noise at high wind speeds.
 Open Circuit Wind Tunnel Facility |
