Conditioning of a Wind Tunnel for aerodynamic tests and laboratory practices at UNAH

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the conditions in which is the existing wind tunnel at the Laboratory for Machine Tools of the Faculty of Engineering of the UNAH. A detailed inventory of existing parts is provided and the list of the missing parts and the price of each one of them is proposed. The tunnel enabled allow scale examine the interaction between alar surfaces of modern aircraft and air flow. The methodology was developed in three phases: first a Bibliographic review to define the basic concepts of aerodynamics applicable to the flight of aircraft and capable of being demonstrated in a laboratory was made; in a second phase, comprehensive information on the conditions under which the existing tunnel currently in UNAH was collected; in a third phase, products and conclusions were established. It is concluded that an activated wind tunnel would be an important educational resource to explain theoretical principles of aerodynamics of many of the courses taught at the UNAH; moreover, the adequacy of the existing device or buying a new one is considered feasible; in the second case it is recommended that an automated tunnel is acquired. This work opens a new line of aeronautics research in Honduras, whose deepening is pending for the design of a manual laboratory practice to guide the use of Wind Tunnel UNAH, once it is operating.