The National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF), is an initiative in which 17 wind tunnels distributed across 12 UK universities (host institutions) are made open access (for up to 25% of time) to external researchers in the UK and abroad, from both university and industry based.The proposal funding details on the EPSRC website: http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewPanel.aspx?PanelId=1-1O6B32http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewPanel.aspx?PanelId=1-1O6B32
NWTF is intended to be as inclusive as possible while still supporting the best science. The scheme was announced on 9 January 2014 by David Willetts, Minister for Science and Universities.News of the opening by the minister David Willetts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-25668025 The total initial funding for the facility was £13.3 million, £10.7 million coming from EPSRC and £2.6 million from the UK Aerospace Technology Institute.News of the opening on the ATI website: http://www.ati.org.uk/news/uk-aerodynamics-epsrc-fund-national-wind-tunnel-facility-nwtf/
The EPSRC and ATI decided to fund the NWTF in order to match the UK talent base to world-class wind tunnel facilities. The enhanced UK capability in experimental aerodynamics is available to all UK-based researchers. The stated aim was to create nodes of excellence attracting young researchers. Another aim was to establish a closer tie with industry, creating a pull-through environment and an intended spill-over of the collaboration and benefits to other sectors.Details of the project: http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/L024888/1
The initial NWTF programme had a duration of five years, ending in 2018. , this was most recently renewed in 2023.
Wind tunnels available the NWTF consists of the following facilities: Institution Name Designation University of Birmingham Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) Open-circuit tunnel TRAIN rig Low Speed, Train rig University of Bristol Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Boundary layer wind tunnel Aeroacoustic Low Speed, Aeroacoustic University of Cambridge Transonic and Supersonic Open return blow down; two identical facilities City St George's, University of London Transonic/Supersonic Closed return, induction driven Low Turbulence Low Speed, closed return Cranfield University 8ft x 6ft Low Speed Closed return Low Speed 8x4 Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (LS3) Low speed closed return Icing Tunnel Open return Glasgow deHavilland Low Speed Wind Tunnel Low speed Imperial College London 10ft x 5ft Low Speed Low speed, closed return Supersonic Intermittent hybrid blow-down / suck-down arrangement Hypersonic Intermittent impulsive facility Loughborough University Automotive Open circuit, closed throat University of Manchester Human-Flow Interactions Wind Tunnel Human-flow interaction wind tunnel High Supersonic Tunnel (HSST) Blow-down University of Oxford T6 Piston Reflected Shock Intermittent blowdown Low Density Tunnel Rarefied flow High Density Tunnel Heated Ludweig tube University of Southampton R J Mitchell Wind Tunnel Closed return Anechoic Anechoic Towing Tank Towing and wave tank University of Surrey Environmental Flow (EnFlo) Meteorological wind tunnel
Governance The NWTF has a management board that meets quarterly, and an advisory board that meets twice a year. The advisory board is composed of representatives from EPSRC, ATI, senior academics (from the UK and abroad), user representatives, an existing national facility manager and a wind tunnel manager.
External links
Official website
References