NASA Logo
+ NASA Homepage
+ About Us– Testing+ Analysis+ Collaboration+ Education+ Contact Us

Find Out More
To learn more about the capabilities of the 9' x 15' Low Speed Wind Tunnel and to find out if it can be used for your test, please, contact:

Ed Envia

+ 9' x 15' Low Speed Wind
   Tunnel

Testing Facilities
9' X 15' LOW SPEED WIND TUNNEL

Low Speed Wind Tunnel

Get ready, get set, go. This picture was snapped when the model was being installed in the test section of the 9’ x 15’ Low Speed Wind Tunnel at NASA Glenn. Fan blades and stator vanes seen here were covered by a nacelle to guide the air flowing through the model during the tests.

Swept and leaned outlet guide vanes cut fan noise in half
Since the early 70’s, theories have hinted that fan noise could be reduced by changing the orientation of the fan outlet guide vanes. It wasn’t until 1997, though, that tests in NASA Glenn’s 9’ x 15’ Low Speed Wind Tunnel proved those theories right. NASA Glenn researchers, collaborating with engineers from the Allison Engine Company, used the traversing microphone system in the
9’ x 15’ Tunnel to measure noise levels of a scale model fan stage in simulated takeoff and landing conditions. The acoustic and aerodynamic measurements recorded during these tests convincingly demonstrated that sweeping and leaning the outlet guide vanes reduced noise without sacrificing aerodynamic performance. The noise levels recorded for the swept and leaned outlet guide vanes were typically 3EPNdB than a conventional design.

The 9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel is specially designed to give researchers a controlled environment in which to study aircraft engine aerodynamics and acoustics. Scale-model tests like these help engineers to isolate noise sources, focus attention where it is most needed, and develop more effective ways to reduce engine noise.

TESTING FACILITIES
+ Aero-Acoustic Propulsion Lab
+ Small Hot Jet Acoustic
   Test Rig

+ Nozzle Acoustic Test Rig
+ Advanced Noise Control
   Fan Rig

– 9’x15’ Low Speed Wind Tunnel
+ Acoustical Testing Laboratory
SPECIAL INSTRUMENTATION
+ Particle Image Velocimetry
+ Rotating Microphone Rake
+ Phased Array Microphones
+ Rotor Alone
+ Rayleigh Scattering
+ Hotwire, Hotfilm, and Laser    Doppler Velocimetry
Spacer
FirstGov - Your First Click to the US Government

+ NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer,
   and Accessibility Certification

+ Download Adobe Reader

Click to visit the NASA Homepage

NASA Official: E. Brian Fite

Last Updated: July 8, 2008


+ GRC Home