My homemade windtunnel

[bbjsw10]

I have been busy the last few nights building my 1/24 scale windtunnel. It is in it's very early stage right now but showing potential. I am planning on making a different smoke generator and nozzle. I am using vacuum hose and 2 soda cans, heated by a propane torch. (Don't try this at home ) I am planning on making a very aero nozzle in future, but playing for now. Here is a video, a lot of cussing was involved in making this so enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCNa_z2WMeY

[Tourigjm]

run the airflow through a honycomb pattern of drinking straws, that'll smooth out the flow and remove any turbulance caused by the tunnel corners or fan.

[bbjsw10]

Thanks, Tourigjm! I will try that. I notice a lot of turbulence when doing it some is from the size hose I am using too. How long of pieces of straws, 2" enough or should I do longer ones?

[cfg83]

bbjsw10 -

Stunning! I think you need access to a high frames-per-second video-camera for detailed analysis.

CarloSW2

[i_am_socket]

Get one or two of those huge tube style Pixie Stix and cut it up to 3-4" lengths and that should work without blocking a lot of airflow, then run your smoke tube horizontally through the honeycomb to prevent turbulence from the tube messing with the airflow over your model.

Nice work so far!

[MazdaMatt]

Hehe... that does an excellent demonstration of the turbulance caused by a gigantic tube floating in front of your car as you drive down the highway.

The oh-so-reliable myth busters uses a whole box of straws. They cut off the top and bottom of the box and they instantly have a packed square of staws. You may even be able to find a packed square the same size as your tunnel.

do you have the fan sucking out or blowing in? Just occurred to me that sucking out may give you smoother entry air than a fan blowing inwards.

Good job Just need a really good model of your own car now.

[cfg83]

i_am_socket -

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

Get one or two of those huge tube style Pixie Stix and cut it up to 3-4" lengths and that should work without blocking a lot of airflow, then run your smoke tube horizontally through the honeycomb to prevent turbulence from the tube messing with the airflow over your model.

Nice work so far!

=====> Boba Straws (Regular) 7 1/2 " long

CarloSW2

[trebuchet03]

Coolness

Wind tunnels are a fair bit difficult to get right. Even moreso to get visualization data from.... While it looks really, cool, it won't give you much information...

You might want to look into building or buying a manometer so you can place pressure taps along the objects body

[CobraBall]

For a smoke generator you might try Marlboros or Fireworks punk (if you can find them this time of year.)

Every time I try to start a fire in the fireplace, I end up generating lots of smoke and very little flame.

[bbjsw10]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Hehe... that does an excellent demonstration of the turbulance caused by a gigantic tube floating in front of your car as you drive down the highway.

do you have the fan sucking out or blowing in? Just occurred to me that sucking out may give you smoother entry air than a fan blowing inwards.

Good job Just need a really good model of your own car now.

Yeah don't drive with a large tube in front of you car.

Fan was blowing in, but after more studying of wind tunnels changing that to sucking out.

I can't find a Metro model to save my life yet. I am pretty sure they weren't too popular at the time. Or kids caught them on fire for laughs, I would have.