TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
PULCHOWK CAMPUS

Complete design of a Wind Tunnel

By:
Anuj Shrestha (060BME604)
Manish Rijal (060BME614)
Santosh Sharma (060BME632)

A
PROPOSAL PROJECT
SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
IN PARTIAL REQUIREMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OR THE
DEGREE OF THE BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

LALITPUR, NEPAL
Chaitra, 2063 B.S.
TITLE OF THE PROJECT
INTRODUCTION
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION AND ITS FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
OBJECTIVE
LITERATURE REVIEW
METHODOLOGY
EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT
PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROJECT
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
CONCLUSION
TITLE OF THE PROJECT: Complete Design of Wind Tunnel.

1.0 INTRODUCTION:
The characteristics of wind, variation of its pressure and speed are the interest of many peoples all
around the world. Many people are studying the effects of air moving over or around solid objects and at
different speed. They do this in a Wind tunnel. Thus the "Wind tunnel" is a facility, by artificially
producing airflow relative to a stationary body that measures aerodynamic force and pressure
distribution to simulate with actual conditions.
There has been a lot of interest in the field of aerodynamics in Nepal. Many research works has been
done by many institutions. But due to the lack of aerodynamic test equipment effective results were not
achieved. Also students’ interest towards this field couldn’t be attracted satisfactorily. This is due to the
fact that they don’t find even the basic test equipment to enlighten and strengthen their interests. Thus
the country is unable to produce higher qualified manpower in this field.
Proposed project would help any institution or individual to make a wind tunnel of their own and perform the
required aerodynamics test.
2.0 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION AND ITS FUNCTIONAL CHARACTRISTICS:
The probable size of wind tunnel under our design consideration is shown in the figure below:

Settling chamber

Compressor
Test Section
Diffuser
Drive section

Front view
Side view
Fig: wind tunnel
orthographic view Note: All dimensions are in inch
 The dimensions of the wind tunnel may vary while considering the economy and simplicity. The
settling chamber consists of honeycomb to minimize turbulence. Provisions for transparent window are there in
the test section. And the drive section consists of the axial fan. The wind tunnel is designed to have a wind
velocity around 40m/s (144 km/hr) in the test section. To do so a compression ratio of 1:3 is used. This means an
axial wind fan of about 36inch blade diameter which can generate a speed of 13.33m/s should be used.

Diffuser 3.0 OBJCTIVES

• To form a basis for complete design of a wind tunnel.
• Studying the characteristics of flow in the tunnel. Calculating the losses in tunnel.
• Studying the effect of winds in various structures.
• The building of 1:3 scale prototypes would help to eliminate the obstruction and minimize the
problem that may be encountered during the installation of the full scale wind-tunnel. Also the
prototype can be used in the department as a laboratory equipment to do different tests in the
field of aerodynamics.
• The completion of project would accelerate the interests of individual and institutions in the field
of aerodynamics.
• Also this wind tunnel project is to provide a hands-on creative problem-solving experience that
incorporates the necessary elements of a design project.
4.0 LITERATURE REVIEW:
A wind tunnel is a device in which a jet of air or any other suitable gas of uniform properties across
the cross section is produced. A wind tunnel simulates the conditions of an aircraft in flight by causing a high-
speed stream of air to flow past a model of the aircraft (or part of an aircraft) being tested. This is used for
aerodynamically testing the model under the given standard conditions.
All the wind tunnels are generally comprised of the driving unit, a settling chamber, an acceleration
duct (either contraction or nozzle) the test section and the diffuser. The driving unit consists of fan, blower or a
compressor generally driven by an electric motor. The location of the driving unit depends on the type of the
tunnel. The flow from the blower or compressor or a fan is settled in a large chamber called the settling chamber.
This is provided with wire gauzes and arrays of honeycombs to straighten the flow and remove irregularities in it.
The settling chamber supplies the flow to the contraction. This is carefully designed to accelerate the flow from
the settling chamber to the test section velocity with minimum disturbance.
The contraction or the nozzle feeds the test section with suitable jet of uniform velocity. The model
to be tested is fixed here with suitable supports. The model is mounted on wires so that lift and drag forces on it
can be measured by measuring the tensions in the wire. The paths of the air-stream around the model can also be
studied by attaching tufts of wool (which align themselves with the wind direction) to various parts of the model,
by injecting thin streams of smoke into the tunnel to render the airflow visible, or by using certain optical devices.
A transparent window or strong glass is often provided on one or both the side walls of the test section. Pressures
on the model surface are measured through small flush openings in its surface. Forces exerted on the model may
be determined from measurement of the airflow upstream and downstream of the model. The diffuser collects the
flow from the test section and raises the pressure of the air for discharging it into the atmosphere or the return
circuit in case of closed circuit tunnel.
Wind tunnel test is a significant factor in any type of vehicle design, from airplanes including
automobiles. It is important in the prediction of forces and moments in sailing. Structural engineers also
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.

5.0 METHODOLOGY:
The activities from the initiation to the finalization of this project involve some these processes:
• Initial paper Works: This includes the search for the entire text materials, books about the design of
Wind tunnel from library to internet. Regular Teacher’s guidance is most important at this stage as this is
the beginning. Then design processes for separate parts started. This includes rough sketches of different
parts, small calculations etc.
• Studying about the axial fan: as our design is totally based in the speed and characteristic of air sucked
by an axial fan. So it is most sensible unit of our project. So the study of the axial fan is done quite
initially. During this we learn the size, cost, rpm, and speed characteristics of air delivered by an axial fan.
This minimizes the change in design of the tunnel after the initial design if we get to know that we can’t
find the desired characteristics’ fan.
• Design work: Design work refers to complete design of each component. Full calculation considering
each and every aspect. From this we can have a detailed drawing of each chamber. This it-self is the
complete design. In this step we choose the materials for each section.
• Building the prototype wind tunnel: Now for building the prototype we recalculate the size, as the
prototype is 1/3 times than the actual sized wind tunnel. For that we first search for the axial fans. We will
use an old one which most probably will be found in a junk-yard. Now we purchase and start the
 assembly of different parts of the prototype wind tunnel. We first perform pre-assembly i.e. assembly of
small parts which are finally assembled together. After that we get a control system for the fan. This is
because we need various speed for various experiment and this is done by the varying the rpm of the fan,
this is done by the control system.
• Testing the wind tunnel: Now the prototype wind tunnel is tested if the flow inside it at various rpm of
fan is within the range of design. To do that pitot probe is attached at different points. Velocity profiles are
drawn and matched with the designed profiles. If the values come approximately same then the design is
good. Also the type of flow and characteristics of flow inside of the tunnel is studied in detail.
• Optimization of Design: The next step after the testing is the optimization of design i.e. making the best
and most effective. For that we look for the change in design and other options available to get the best
performance of the prototype. The immediate outcome of the change in design is studied and if it’s not
that effective then other options are used.
• Final Design: After we get satisfactory results from the optimization of our model we examine and
change the initial design of the wind tunnel. After that we get new optimized complete design of the wind
tunnel, with all necessary information in it. So from our complete design anyone can assemble the wind
tunnel for their purpose.
Regular check and evaluation study of the progress of the project till that date is done monthly. This
helps us to know how we are moving and what changes are desired.
Time line chart for the proceedings of the project:
Chaitra Baisakh Jestha Asar Shravan Bhadra Ashwin Kartik
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
initial paper
work
study about
axial fan
initial design
work
building a
proto-type
wind tunnel
testing the
wind tunnel
optimization
of Design
final
design
6.0 EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT:
This project will prove itself as a milestone in the field of aerodynamics research in Nepal.
This will strengthen the interest of students towards the field.
Studies and research can be done in the country itself about different aerodynamic problems.
This would open a new field in design of airfoils in the country itself.

7.0 PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROJECTS:

The principal beneficiaries of the product are all the individuals and institutions interested in this field.
Especially students and teachers wishing to do something in the field of aerodynamics are benefited.