Wind Profiles in a Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel based on Different Approach Terrain Configurations

Over the course of this project, the turbulence profiles from hundreds of different Terraformer roughness element configurations were collected, providing a very rich dataset of boundary layer flow as a function of upwind fetch.
Vertically aligned turbulence measuring Cobra probes vertically separated by 160 mm are mounted on an automated articulating gantry programmed to move in three dimensions. In this manner, three vertical turbulence profiles in different lateral locations are measured during each experiment. The flow is driven by the eight vane axial fans and conditioned by the Irwin Spires through the inlet after which the boundary layer flow is developed over the Terraformer roughness element section before arriving at the measuring plane. The x direction is defined as the upstream from the vane axial fans, y direction is perpendicular to the x direction and represents the lateral locations of the measured vertical profiles. Finally, z represents the vertical height of the cobra probes from the floor of the UFBLWT.