The VKI supersonic/transonic wind tunnel S-1 is a continuous closed circuit facility of the Ackeret type, driven by a 615 kW axial flow compressor. Three 0.4 m x 0.36 m test sections are available: contoured nozzles with M = 2.0 and 2.25 and a slotted transonic section with variable Mach number, from 0.4 to 1.05. A solid half nozzle with M = 1.43 is also available for shock wave/boundary layer interaction studies. A typical unit Reynolds number is 4 x 106/m. The test section contains a three-degree-of-freedom traversing mechanism for model and/or probe support, as well as a variable incidence mechanism (up to ± 35 degrees).
Standard instrumentation includes scani-valves for pressure distribution measurements, multi-component strain gauge balances.
For the investigations of dynamic stability of aerospace vehicles, free-to-tumble mounting system, force oscillation system and semi-free oscillation system are available.Following a major renovation, the S-1 facility has been recommissioned in 2004 with a new semi-automated control system.
• Continuous wind tunnel
• 0.4m x 0.4m test sections
• Mach number range : 0.1 … 1.05 with transonic nozzle
• Mach number : 2.0 with supersonic nozzle
• Reynolds number up to 4 millions/m
• Max test run duration : continuous.
• Max pressure : 1 bar
• Slotted wall transonic test section
Sting with 3DoF
• Internal balance design and build on request
• Pressure measurements
♦ Dynamic pressure systems : 64 channels
• CTS system (closed loop)
• Schlieren system
• free-to-tumble mounting system
• force oscillation system
• semi-free oscillation system