GRADUATE AERONAUTICAL LABORATORIES
California Institute of Technology
Division of Engineering and Applied Science
1200 E. California Boulevard, MS 105-50, Pasadena, CA 91125

Historical
AWT construction
Ten-Foot Tunnel

Lucas AWT

Test Capabilities

Test section pressure: Atmospheric

Test section temperature: 70-100 degrees F¹

Duty cycle: Continuous

Turbulence level: Not yet measured

1) Air temperature is maintained by a chilled water heat exchanger with feedback control.  At the highest velocities, the system is overpowered and equilibrates at higher temperatures.

Maximum model size:

Model supports: Ground plane, plus special supports

Force balance: Task 3161 configured for ground vehicle use with ground plane; six-channel, currently operating as three-channel (two normal forces plus drag).  Maximum loads:
 

Data Acquisition: National Instruments PCI-6034E acquisition card, 16-bit resolution, 200 kHz max sampling rate, +/- 10V range.  Seven, single-ended channels available for model acquisition; a second card will be added soon.

Flow visualization:  We have both a handheld smoke wand that can inject smoke into the airstream at speeds up to 40 mph, and can also attach tufts to the test model for operation at any speed.