The goal of this project was to design a supersonic wind tunnel (SWT) for use in the laboratory. This SWT will be the indraft type, with the necessary pressure ratio provided by an existing vacuum chamber. The design constraints included interfacing with existing flanges on the vacuum chamber, optical access for the test section of the tunnel, and maintaining costs within the allocated budget. Mechanical design of the tunnel was completed using solid modeling software and the supersonic nozzle was designed using the method of characteristics. This report details the process of determining critical dimensions (throat area and expansion ratio), estimating the attainable test duration, and design of a supersonic nozzle to prevent shocks in the test section.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Moore, Peter James

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-102809-221348

Advisor

• Blandino, John J.

Year

• 2009

Date created

• 2009-10-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Aerospace Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright