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Wind Tunnel Downloads

Glenn
Research
Center

Link to TunnelSim Applet Link to TunnelSys Applet Link to Wright-01 Applet

Here is a group of Java programs which were designed to help undergraduate engineering students. These programs cover the basics of wind tunnel construction and wind tunnel testing. The icon at the top of each section will take you to a web page which contains a wind tunnel simulation. The web page assumes that you understand the program operation and contains only the applet and a couple of hyperlinks to additional pages which describe the science and math behind each program and some additional instructions on the program operation. The linked pages will take a little longer to load into your browser. If you follow the instructions given below, you can download a copy of each program to your computer and you can then run the programs off-line.

All of the downloaded programs on this page are transported in ".zip" format. You will need to use the "WinZip" program to "Extract" the files from the "*.zip" file. If you skip this step, you will only see grey box when you attempt to run the applet or application.


Link to TunnelSim Applet

TunnelSim - Open Return helps you design an open return wind tunnel. The program solves the continuity equation for a geometry that you specify using sliders and input boxes. The analysis is limited to incompressible, inviscid, one-dimensional flows, and the program warns the user if the diffuser angle exceeds a separation criteria (> 7 degrees) or if the speed in any section of the tunnel exceeds 300 mph. Calculations are in English or Metric units.

Non interactive image of TunnelSim Applet

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY:
Here is the procedure to download your own copy of TunnelSim - Open Return:

  1. The downloaded file is in .ZIP format which you must store on your hard drive when prompted by your browser.
  2. Click Here to download a copy of the applet
  3. Go to the directory where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files.
  4. Click on Tuno.html to launch your browser and load the driver program.


Link to Wright-01 Applet

Wright - 1901 Wind Tunnel is a simulation of the wind tunnel used by the Wright Brothers in 1901 to obtain design data for their aircraft. In the fall of 1901, the brother bullt their wind tunnel and screened more than 200 different wing designs. They selected 35 wings for detailed testing, obtaining lift and drag coefficients using balances of their own design. With this software you can duplicate all of the Wright brothers detailed tests, using the same procedure that they used. There are two versions of the simulator: one that requires you to reduce and graph the data; the other, more modern version, generates the performance graphs.

Non interactive image of Wright 1901 Applet

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY:
Here is the procedure to download your own copy of the Wright 1901 Wind Tunnel Applet

  1. The downloaded file is in .ZIP format which you must store on your hard drive when prompted by your browser.
  2. Click Here to download a copy of the older applet
  3. Click Here to download a copy of the modern applet
  4. Go to the directory where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files.
  5. Click on Tunl.html for the older applet or Tunnel.html on the modern applet to launch your browser and load the driver program.


Link to TunnelSys - Geometry Applet

TunnelSys - Design is a simulator to design an aircraft wing model. You interactively change the chord, span, camber, and thickness of the wing and the program generates the geometry. The geometry is displayed in a three-dimensional projection and as an engineering drawing. For the TunnelSys Application, the output from design program becomes the input to the wind tunnel test program. For the TunnelSys Applet, the design illustrates many of the design variables described on the wing geometry web page.

Non interactive image of TunnelSys Design Applet

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY:
Here is the procedure to download your own copy of TunnelSys Design Applet:

  1. The downloaded file is in .ZIP format which you must store on your hard drive when prompted by your browser.
  2. Click Here to download a copy of the applet
  3. Go to the directory where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files.
  4. Click on Geom.html to launch your browser and load the TunnelSys - Design driver program.

There is an even more powerful version of TunnelSys - Design which is available for very experienced users. This program is a Java application, not an applet. It runs stand alone and you must have Java installed on your computer to run this program. The chief advantage of this program is that it can read and write files on your computer. It is part of the TunnelSys application package. You can also save your current design to a "Save" file. At your next session you can read the "Save" file information back into the program and continue your design.

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY:
Here is the procedure to download your own copy of TunnelSys Design Application:

  1. Install a copy of the Java 1.1.8 (or higher) JDK program language on your computer. This software is available for free from Sun Microsystems.
  2. The downloaded file is in .ZIP format which you must store on your hard drive when prompted by your browser.
  3. Click Here to download a copy of Version 1.0h, TunnelSys Design Application
  4. Go to the folder where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files. Remember the name of this folder.
  5. The "DesignManual" file can be printed to assist you in launching and operating the program.
  6. Open a DOS window. Type "java -cp (path to the folder) Design" to launch the application. You can re-size the window as desired.


Link to TunnelSys - Tunnel Test Applet

TunnelSys - Tunnel Test is a simulator to wind tunnel test an aircraft wing model. You interactively change the conditions in the tunnel, including the speed, pressure, and angle of attack of the model. The program calculates the lift force generated by the model and the surface pressure distribution. You can interactive probe the flowfield around the model and can choose from a variety of flow visualization techniques. For the TunnelSys Application, the output from tunnel test program becomes the input to the post-processing program. For the TunnelSys Applet, the tunnel test program illustrates many of the test techniquea described on the wind tunnel web page.

Non interactive image of TunnelSys Tunnel Test Applet

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY:
Here is the procedure to download your own copy of TunnelSys Tunnel Test Applet:

  1. The downloaded file is in .ZIP format which you must store on your hard drive when prompted by your browser.
  2. Click Here to download a copy of the applet
  3. Go to the directory where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files.
  4. Click on Wtest.html to launch your browser and load the TunnelSys - Tunnel Test driver program.

There is an even more powerful version of TunnelSys - Tunnel Test which is available for very experienced users. This program is a Java application, not an applet. It runs stand alone and you must have Java installed on your computer to run this program. The chief advantage of this program is that it can read and write files on your computer. It is part of the TunnelSys application package. You can also save your current results to a "Save" file and then post-process the data that you have generated.

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY:
Here is the procedure to download your own copy of TunnelSys Tunnel Test Application:

  1. Install a copy of the Java 1.1.8 (or higher) JDK program language on your computer. This software is available for free from Sun Microsystems.
  2. The downloaded file is in .ZIP format which you must store on your hard drive when prompted by your browser.
  3. Click Here to download a copy of Version 1.0j, TunnelSys Tunnel Test Application
  4. Go to the folder where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files. Remember the name of this folder.
  5. The "TestManual" file can be printed to assist you in launching and operating the program.
  6. Open a DOS window. Type "java -cp (path to the folder) Tunnel" to launch the application. You can re-size the window as desired.


Link to TunnelSys Applet

TunnelSys is a simulator to design, test, and analyze the performance of a wind tunnel model of an aircraft wing. TunnelSys combines three computer programs, the design and wind tunnel test programs, which have been described above, and a post-processing program to plot the results from the wind tunnel test. With the post-processing program you can compare the results from multiple wind tunnel test designs. For the TunnelSys Application, the output from design program becomes the input to the wind tunnel test program and the output from the test program becomes the input to the post-processing program. Output files must be saved on the user's computer. For the TunnelSys Applet, there is an initial switching program that invokes the three process programs and provides a status indicator.

Non interactive image of TunnelSys Switch Applet Non interactive image of TunnelSys Post-Processing Applet

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY:
Here is the procedure to download your own copy of TunnelSys Applet:

  1. The downloaded file is in .ZIP format which you must store on your hard drive when prompted by your browser.
  2. Click Here to download a copy of the applet
  3. Go to the directory where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files.
  4. Click on Sys.html to launch your browser and load the TunnelSys driver program.

There is an even more powerful version of TunnelSys which is available for very experienced users. This program contains three Java applications, not an applet. They run stand alone and you must have Java installed on your computer to run these programs. The chief advantage of the programs are that it can read and write files on your computer. Three student can each run one of the programs and pass information between them to simulate the systems engineering process involved in wind tunnel testing.

DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY:
Here is the procedure to download your own copy of TunnelSys Applications:

  1. Install a copy of the Java 1.1.8 (or higher) JDK program language on your computer. This software is available for free from Sun Microsystems.
  2. The downloaded files are in .ZIP format which you must store on your hard drive when prompted by your browser.
  3. Click Here to download a copy of Version 1.0h, TunnelSys Design Application
  4. Go to the folder where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files. Remember the name of this folder.
  5. The "DesignManual" file can be printed to assist you in launching and operating the program.
  6. Open a DOS window. Type "java -cp (path to the folder) Design" to launch the application. You can re-size the window as desired.
  7. Click Here to download a copy of Version 1.0j, TunnelSys Tunnel Test Application
  8. Go to the folder where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files. Remember the name of this folder.
  9. The "TestManual" file can be printed to assist you in launching and operating the program.
  10. Open a DOS window. Type "java -cp (path to the folder) Tunnel" to launch the application. You can re-size the window as desired.
  11. Click Here to download a copy of Version 1.0j, TunnelSys Post-Processing Application
  12. Go to the folder where you have stored the .ZIP file and "Extract" all the files. Remember the name of this folder.
  13. The "ProcessManual" file can be printed to assist you in launching and operating the program.
  14. Open a DOS window. Type "java -cp (path to the folder) Process" to launch the application. You can re-size the window as desired.


COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
This software is in the Public Domain. It may be freely copied and used in non-commercial products, assuming proper credit to the author is given. IT MAY NOT BE RESOLD. If you want to use the software for commercial products, contact the author.

No copyright is claimed in the United States under Title 17, U.S. Code. This software is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed, implied, or statutory, including but not limited to, any warranty that the software will conform to specifications, any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from infringement, and any warranty that the documentation will conform to the program, or any warranty that the software will be error free.

In no event shall NASA be liable for any damages, including, but not limited to direct, indirect, special or consequential damages, arising out of, resulting from, or in any way connected with this software, whether or not based on warranty, contract, tort or otherwise, whether or not injury was sustained by persons or property or otherwise, and whether or not loss was sustained from or arose out of the results of, or use of, the software or services provided hereunder.


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Beginner's Guide to Wind Tunnels
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Editor: Tom Benson
NASA Official: Tom Benson
Last Updated: May 13 2021

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