Wind Tunnels

The Adelaide Wind Tunnel research and testing facility is South Australia’s only industrial-scale wind tunnel, and the second largest in Australia.

The state-of-the-art facility has a wide range of purposes and can be used for all kinds of wind engineering and aerodynamics testing.

Designed and built by the University of Adelaide, with support from the Sir Ross & Sir Keith Smith Fund and South Australian Government, it features three working sections catering to multiple industries’ needs.

These include:

  • aerospace
  • defence
  • wind engineering
  • sports
  • automotive
  • mining.

  • Adelaide Wind Tunnel testing capabilities
    • Turntable and force balance (wind engineering)
    • Support stings with load cells
    • Hot-wire, Pitot and Cobra Probe anemometry (1-, 2- and 3-component)
    • Flow visualisation
    • Laser diagnostics (LIF, PIV)
    • 3D scanning laser vibrometer
    • Acoustic instrumentation
    • Dedicated staff offering technical support and expert consultation

  • Wind-engineering test section

    The wind-engineering test section can be used for testing buildings and other large structures, and environmental studies (atmospheric flow simulation).

    Its design flow conditions are:

    • 3 x 3 m2 cross-section area
    • 33 m/s (120 km/h) maximum air speed
    • 1.2 m boundary-layer thickness.

  • Aerodynamics test section

    The aerodynamics test section has application to aerospace-related testing, including for aircraft structures and aeroacoustics. Other applications include wind turbine testing and sports engineering.

    The closed ‘aerospace’ section’s specifications are:

    • 2.75 x 2 m2 cross-section area
    • 50 m/s (180 km/h) maximum air speed
    • < 0.8% turbulence intensity.

    The ‘open jet’ section’s specifications are:

    • 2.75 x 2 m2 cross-section area
    • 50 m/s (180 km/h) maximum air speed
    • up to 3.5 x 5.5 x 15 m/s open-jet working section capability.

  • Virtual tour

Contact us

If you are interested in using this facility, please contact Lab Manager, Marc Simpson. He will be in touch as soon as possible.

Email Marc Simpson

Location

Adelaide Wind Tunnel is located at our Thebarton Campus.

Adelaide Wind Tunnel
Building 21 (The Palace)
Thebarton Campus
35-37 Stirling Street
THEBARTON SA 5031
AUSTRALIA