Wind tunnel testing is conducted using an AEROLAB Eiffel Wind tunnel in conjunction with a 4-axis load cell which was designed and manufactured in house. Data collection is accomplished by connecting both the load cell and the wind tunnel interface within Labview to compile force and moment data. Tests are run with varying angles of attack between -20° and 60° and varying aileron and elevator deflections between -30° and 30°.
AEROLAB Eiffel Wind Tunnel
– Test Section: 30”x30”x46.75”
– 30”x30” Test Section Open Circuit Wind Tunnel (Eiffel Configuration)
– Maximum Speed of 30 m/s (Clean Tunnel)
– 10 HP fan motor – 240/480 VAC
– 10 HP Solid State Wall Mounted Variable Frequency Drive
– High-Efficiency Variable Pitch Vane Axial Fan
– Aluminum Honeycomb flow straightener
– Two turbulence reducing screens with 2 additional slots for future expansion
– 6:1 Contraction Ratio
– Vibration isolation between fan and duct
Load Balance for wind Tunnel Testing
– 3-axis load balance (Lift, Drag, and Pitching Moment) up 5 lbf
– 4-Axis Load balance (Lift, Drag, Rolling Moment, and Pitching Moment) up to 50N/500N.m
– 4-Axis Load balance (Lift, Drag, Rolling Moment, and Pitching Moment) up to 250N/350N.m