The University has a variety of Wind and Water Tunnels including a closed circuit low-speed wind tunnel, an open circuit low-speed wind tunnel, a water tunnel, and two blow-down supersonic tunnels for fluid dynamic research. Instrumentation available include volumetric 3-component velocimetry (V3V), digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV), laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), Schlieren, high-speed photography systems for optical diagnostics, in addition to hot-wire anemometry, pressure, and load measurement capabilities. The wind speeds achievable are 5-45 m/s in the low speed wind tunnels, water tunnel has 10-50 cm/s flow velocity range, and the supersonic tunnels have Mach 1.65-4 range.
Tunnels can accommodate different size test articles. The subsonic tunnel test sections vary between 12″x36″ to 29″x44″ with 6 to 16 ft long test sections. The water tunnel has a 15″ x 30″ cross section and 9 ft length. Supersonic tunnels have two distinct cross sections one 3.5″ x 3.5″ and the other 6″x 6″. Research conducted in these tunnels include: shark skin drag reduction experiments, bio-inspired UAV wing design investigation, and shock-wave boundary layer interaction research among any other topics.