15 / Engineering case study
Desktop Wind Tunnel
A compact airflow test platform for observing aerodynamic behaviour around small specimens.
- Engineering domain
- Experimental aerodynamics
- Project status
- Completed
Developed by Mohammed Vashir - Difficulty
- Intermediate
Representative imagery — not this 4TECH build.The problem.
An ordinary fan produces a disturbed flow that is difficult to use for comparative aerodynamic observations. A test platform needs a defined flow path, accessible specimen region and repeatable setup.
The engineering approach.
The desktop tunnel combines an airflow source, flow-straightening elements and a transparent test section. Specimens can be positioned in the flow while their behaviour is observed and recorded.
The engineering work covers the relationship between the enclosure, flow path, test section and instrumentation. A repeatable setup supports comparisons between specimens and operating conditions within the limits of a benchtop apparatus.
The toolkit.
- Fan and flow control
- Honeycomb straightener
- Transparent test section
- CAD
- Measurement instrumentation
Engineering contribution.
Enables practical investigation of airflow, model geometry and aerodynamic experimentation.
Technical scope & validation
Flow uniformity, turbulence intensity and force-measurement uncertainty are not numerically specified. Desktop observations are not full-scale aerodynamic certification.
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