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How to Make Wind Tunnels

A wind tunnel is a device used to generate different velocities of air to study the effect of high winds on various objects. Wind tunnels are used by auto manufacturers to study the aerodynamic efficiency of their automobiles. An automobile with a high aerodynamic efficiency will require less energy to move it through the air. Wind tunnels are composed of a large high-speed fan and a large tunnel that drops in size as you move away from the fan. This article discusses how to build a small-scale wind tunnel.

Things You'll Need

12-inch in-line duct fan
8-inch HVAC duct, 12 inches long
6-inch HVAC duct, 12 inches long
12-inch-to-8-inch duct transition adapter
8-inch-to-6-inch duct transition adaptor
HVAC duct tape
Scissors
Hacksaw
5-inch-by-6-inch clear plastic sheet
Screws
Screwdriver
Weatherstripping

Instructions

- 1
  Place the 12-inch duct fan onto your work table. Connect the 12-inch-to 8-inch adapter to the front of the 12-inch duct fan. It should be positioned so that the air from the duct fan blows into the adapter. Connect the 8-inch duct section to the end of the 12-inch-to 8-inch adapter.
- 2
  Wrap the joints between these sections with HVAC tape to make them air tight. Connect the 8-inch-to-6-inch adapter to the end of the 8-inch duct section, and then attach the 6-inch duct section to the other end of the adapter. Again, seal the joints with HVAC tape.
- 3
  Use a hacksaw to cut a 4-inch-by-5-inch rectangle out of the side of the 6-inch duct section, close to the center of it. Cut the clear plastic sheet so it measures 5 inches by 6 inches.
  
  Apply weatherstripping along the edge of the plastic sheet and use it to cover the hole you cut into the 6-inch duct section.
- 4
  Drill a small hole at each corner of the plastic sheet, so it goes through the plastic and the 6-inch duct section. Secure the sheet with screws at these points. When the fan is turned on, it sends air through the pipes. As the size of the ducts decrease, the velocity of the air increases. This principle allows an average-sized fan to produce high-velocity winds and airflow.

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