European Strategic Wind tunnels
Improved Research Potential
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Since the 1950’s wind tunnel testing has matured from rather simple simulations in relatively small wind tunnels to high quality, high productivity testing with adequate simulation of compressibility effects (Mach Number), flow physics (Reynolds Number) and noise emission (Strouhal Number) in large scale, high Reynolds Number facilities like the transonic wind tunnel ONERA-S1MA, the subsonic wind tunnel DNW-LLF and the pressurised cryogenic facility ETW.
Although the scope of applications is very broad, the choices that have led to these facilities are to a large extent determined by aerodynamic requirements at high Reynolds Numbers, high speed and large scale models including representative engine (S1MA, LLF), noise (S1MA, LLF) and ground (LLF) simulation and full flight Reynolds Numbers (ETW) simulation at cruise, take-off and landing conditions of aircraft and rotorcraft. The fact that three different though complementary facilities emerged can be reduced to the physical constraints of the simulation parameters for the design of the wind tunnels. High quality is mandatory to enable exchange of data with a high degree of accuracy, while high productivity is necessary to reduce the cost of data.