Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel

This facility is designed for studying turbulent transport phenomena in two-dimensional and three-dimensional boundary layer flows. Measurement capabilities include two component Laser Doppler Velocimetry, hot-wire anemometry for three dimensional velocity measurements, cold-wire temperature instrumentation, and laser light sheet flow visualization. Past research projects have included 3-D scalar transport studies in the junction boundary layers, flow visualization of vortex generator jets, and turbulent flow field mapping of shallow wall cavities.

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Instrumentation, Aerodynamics & Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

This 2,600 square foot undergraduate instructional laboratory contains a large, computer-controlled wind tunnel for experiments related to flow induced pressures and forces on shpheres, cylinders, and airfoils; and a small wind tunnel for experiments related to Bernoulli's Principle. It also contains equipment for studying the flow of water in pipes, the characteristics of pumps, and the transition from laminar to turbulent flow. In addition, the laboratory is equipped with computer work stations with associated electronic meters for automated sata acquisition fromm transducers used for measuring temperature, strain, displacement, and flow rate.

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Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer & Propulsion Laboratory

The Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Propulsion Laboratory’s primary function is to provide laboratory components for the thermal science courses, EK 304 Energy and Thermodynamics, AM 419 Heat Transfer, and AM 405 Propulsion. The laboratory consists of the following equipment and experiments:

• A steam boiler and steam power plant, used for two exercises in EK 304: (a) Measurement of saturated steam properties and application of the first law of thermodynamics for a closed system, and (b) Application of the first law of thermodynamics for an open system.
  
• An instrumented double-wall heat exchanger apparatus for heat exchanger and convection experiments in AM 419 involving determination of the overall heat transfer coefficient, the heat transfer coefficients of the individual streams, the heat exchanger effectiveness, and temperature profiles through the heat exchangers.
  
• Constant temperature baths, instrumented metal spheres and a DAQ computer for an unsteady heat transfer experiment, involving measuring the temperature-time history of both a copper sphere and a steel sphere moved between temperature baths.
  
• An operating mini jet engine, fully instrumented for computer data acquisition.

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