Wind Tunnel Research at a Community College

In summary, a group of engineering and science students at a community college have been gifted a wind tunnel by a local university. They have free reign to refurbish and tune it, and have come up with ideas such as testing paper airplane designs, drag of car bodies, airfoil design, resonance frequency failures, and chemistry reactions at different wind speeds. They are looking for ideas to impress on their resumes, such as publishing a paper on tuning or paper airplane designs. One suggestion is to build a streamline generator if the wind tunnel does not already have one.
  • #1
SphericalCow
21
3
I'm a student at a community college that was gifted a wind tunnel by a local uni. I'm leading a group of 5+ engineering / science students to refurbish and tune it.

The testing chamber is around 12 x 5 x 5 inches, and we have free reign to do anything we'd like. We've had some ideas like testing different aspects of paper airplane design, drag of car bodies, designing air foils, resonance frequency failures, chemistry reactions at different wind speeds, etc. Most of us have a year before we transfer.

Q1) Do you have any ideas for experiments a group of engineers and science majors would love?However, we'd also like to be able to put something impressive down for our applications to internships / REUs / grad school.

Q2) What can we do with this that will look awesome on a resume? For example, could we publish a paper on tuning it, or paper airplane designs?

Additional comments / thoughts are welcome. Thank you!
 
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  • #2
I would not try and impress. That said, the refurbishment is probably more "impressive" than whatever you stick in there.
 
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Likes berkeman and russ_watters
  • #3
Does it already have a streamline generator? If not, it could be an interesting project to build one and optimize it.

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https://www.cartagena99.com/recursos/alumnos/temarios/AER_T2p1-InviscidFlow_(English).pdf
 

1. What is a wind tunnel and how does it work?

A wind tunnel is a device used to study the effects of air flow on objects. It consists of a long tube with a fan at one end that creates a controlled and steady flow of air. Objects can be placed inside the tunnel to observe how they behave under different wind conditions.

2. How is wind tunnel research conducted at a community college?

Wind tunnel research at a community college typically involves students and faculty working together to design and conduct experiments. The college may have a dedicated wind tunnel facility or may use a portable wind tunnel for research. Students may also have the opportunity to present their findings at conferences or publish their research in academic journals.

3. What are the benefits of conducting wind tunnel research at a community college?

There are several benefits to conducting wind tunnel research at a community college. It provides students with hands-on experience in a real-world setting, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical experiments. It also allows for collaboration between students and faculty, and can lead to valuable research and discoveries in the field of aerodynamics.

4. What types of experiments can be conducted in a wind tunnel at a community college?

Community college wind tunnels can be used for a variety of experiments, including testing the aerodynamics of different objects such as airplanes, cars, and buildings. They can also be used to study the effects of wind on structures, such as bridges and towers, and to test the efficiency of different wind energy technologies.

5. How does wind tunnel research at a community college contribute to the larger scientific community?

Wind tunnel research at a community college can contribute to the larger scientific community in several ways. It can lead to new discoveries and advancements in the field of aerodynamics, which can have practical applications in various industries. It also provides valuable research experience for students, who may go on to pursue careers in science and engineering, further contributing to the scientific community.

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