Mission:

To expose the student to experiments related to the mechanics of fluids, internal viscous flow, and flow around immersed bodies.

Equipment:

The lab has nine principal pieces of teaching equipment that are used in performing a variety of experimental exercises.

Fluid flow experiments

Jet Impact (Conservation of Linear Momentum).
Orifice Flow (includes orifice accessory set).
Venturi Meter (Application of Bernoulli’s Equation).
Reynolds Transition (Flow Visualization).
Laminar and Turbulent Pipe Friction (Darcy Friction Factor).
Minor Pipe-work Losses.

Free-standing experiments

Flow Visualization Water Tunnel (6” test section): An un-pressurized, closed circuit flow loop with a three color dye injection system. Available flow models include airfoils, cylinders (cross flow), spheres, ellipsoids, cones, and hemispherical cups. Additionally, weir and sluice gates can be configured.

Subsonic Wind Tunnel (12” test section): Closed-flow loop device with electronic pressure transducers, probe traversing mechanism, and a two-axis force balance (dynamometer). Flow models include NACA 0012 and 4412 airfoils with pressure taps, cross-flow cylinders with pressure taps, various blunt bodies for drag force experiments.

Blower/Duct Apparatus: Centrifugal blower attached to an instrumented 8” duct. Various reducers, elbows, and exhaust pieces can be fitted. Experiments involving air speed measurement, velocity profiles in ducts, minor losses, etc. can be conducted with this system.

All of the above equipment except for the wind tunnel and the blower/duct apparatus, was purchased in the last four years (capital improvement of $26,350).

Students: The laboratory can accommodate twelve students simultaneously operating four experimental stations.