Objects in a Windtunnel Simulated With COMSOL

H. van Halewijn
Fontys Hogeschool
Applied Physics
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Published in 2011

For the educational program of Fluid Dynamics at the Fontys Hogeshool of Applied Physics, a wind tunnel was developed for tests of flow profiles of objects, such as a ball, cube or plate. Students are expected to measure the air resistance of a variety of objects, and verify the measurements with the turbulent CFD module of COMSOL.

The measurements and the COMSOL simulations match nicely, and deviate from the standard theory with the Cd values found in literature. This is used to give the students a feeling of the idealizations commonly made in the theory of fluid dynamincs. For example, the detailed flow profile around the edges of a disk can explain some deviations with theory, and students get a good understanding of this part of fluid dynamics. With the aid of a simulation tool such as COMSOL, the level of understanding is significantly increased.