2C50.10 • Wind Tunnel

Photo shows the demonstration used at the University of Texas at Austin.

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Concepts Conveyed:

• fluid dynamics and aerodynamic principles.
• Students can observe laminar and turbulent flow patterns when introducing smoke into a controlled air stream.
• The geometry of an object (airfoil or cylinder) influences the behavior of air currents and the generation of lift or drag.

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Instructions/Notes:

• Place the wooden block on the side of the apparatus opposite the fan and sit the glass dish atop this block. Fill the glass dish about 1/3 of the way to ensure a sufficient amount of smoke is created for the duration of the demo.
• For the best visualization of the smoke flowing over the object, set the LED unit to white or blue. Turn off the room lights to increase contrast.
• The airfoil and cylinder are both interchangeable in the setup, used to compare streamlined versus bluff body flow.
• Use the green knob located outside the clear casing of the wind tunnel to adjust the angle of attack on the airfoil. This allows for the demonstration of flow separation and stall conditions.

Last updated on March 26, 2026