Climatic Wind Tunnel

About Climatic Wind Tunnel

A high-performance climatic wind tunnel designed for full-scale aerodynamic and environmental testing of structural cables and similar components under controlled wind, rain, and icing conditions.

 Technical Overview

• Application: Full-scale testing of bridge cables, stay cables, structural elements
• Test Media: Wind, rain, freezing conditions, ice accretion simulation
• Flow Type: Controlled, uniform airflow for aerodynamic studies
• Scale: Full-scale (no geometric scaling required for cables)

Aerodynamic Performance

• Maximum Wind Speed: up to 32 m/s
• Variable Flow Range: ~032 m/s (continuously adjustable)
• Flow Stability: High uniformity for repeatable aerodynamic loading conditions

Thermal & Climatic Control

• Temperature Range:
• Down to 10C at lower wind speeds
• Down to 5C at approximately 25 m/s airflow
• Climate Modes:
• Dry cold airflow
• Rain + wind combination
• Icing / ice accretion conditions

 Icing & Weather Simulation Capabilities

• Controlled ice accretion on cylindrical and cable surfaces
• Simulation of freezing rain and wet snow conditions
• Observation of ice shedding and aerodynamic instability effects
• Realistic reproduction of wind-induced vibration + icing interaction

Testing Capabilities

• Aeroelastic response of long, flexible cables
• Wind-induced vibration (rainwind / vortex shedding effects)
• Ice formation impact on drag, lift, and cable stability
• Safety assessment for ice shedding onto infrastructure below

 

 Key Advantages

• Full-scale realism eliminates scaling errors
• Direct applicability of results for bridge design
• Supports development of anti-vibration and de-icing measures
• Enables validation of next-generation long-span bridge designs

Versatile Environmental Simulation

This climatic wind tunnel enables precise replication of extreme weather conditions, essential for automotive, aerospace, and building material testing. Its broad temperature and humidity range, combined with accurate airflow control, supports rigorous performance assessments and innovation in product development.


State-of-the-Art Control and Safety

Equipped with a PLC-based touch screen interface, the tunnel provides intuitive operation and precise settings adjustment. Safety is paramount, with features such as overheat protection, emergency stop, and overload alarms, ensuring operator and equipment security during complex testing.


Comprehensive Data Monitoring

Integrated temperature and humidity sensors, test stands, and a data acquisition system facilitate real-time monitoring and recording of all environmental parameters. This robust setup guarantees reliable testing data, crucial for quality assurance and research validation.