RJ Mitchell
University of Southampton
The RJ Mitchell wind tunnel at the University of Southampton has a test section of 3.5 m x 2.44 m x 10.5 m and a max speed of 40 m/s. It has a 6-component overhead balance with various mounting options, underfloor 2- component balance and two point motorised strut for vehicle work. It has a rolling road with boundary layer suction. It is equipped with the latest HWA, stereo time resolved PIV and LDV systems.
- Location:
- Southampton
- Test Section 1 size:
- 3.5 x 2.44 x 10.5m
5:1 contraction ratio.
- Number and Type of Staff:
- Scientific: 3
Technical Support: 3
- Test support:
- Workshop for wind tunnel model design, manufacture and modification capability.
3D printers on site. - Designation:
- Closed Return
- Performance:
-
Mach Number: 0.12 (max)
Maximum Flow Speed: 40 m/s
Reynolds No: 2.71x10⁶/m (max)
Total Pressure: Ambient
Pressure: Up to 1.152 kN/m²
Temperature: Ambient to 292 K
Turbulence intensity: < 0.2%
Run Time: Continuous
- Testing Capabilities:
-
Model Support: Six-component overhead balance with various mounting options.
Two-axis motorised strut with in-car six-component balance for vehicle work.
Rolling Road: Rolling road (up to 40m/s) with dual stage boundary layer suction.
Data Acquisition: Multichannel simultaneous data acquisition.
Outputs: Forces and moments; pressure, velocity (Stereo PIV, hot wire anemometry).
Flow visualisation: Smoke, video, surface fluorescent oilflow, Streamwise ProCap with 5-hole and 14-hole omniprobe options.
- Specialist Rigs:
- Notes:
Formerly at Farnborough the tunnel was moved to Southampton in the 1980s to accommodate extensive motorsport work.
Specialist Rigs:
• Rolling road (up to 40m/s) with dual stage boundary layer suction.
• Multi-geometry wake generator for vehicle studies.
• Dynamic flight rig for aircraft maneuver/stability investigations.
• Motorised yaw turntable on both floor and ceiling.
• In-yacht balance system to be installed early 2027.
• Rotor rigs have been developed and used in this tunnel as well as propeller/rudder rigs. - Equipment:
- Tomographic PIV System / Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence System LAVision
3-axis traverse system