Internal Fluid Mechanics Facility Installation of research hardware that supports the experimental program investigating the fundamental flow physics within a diffuser. The air is filtered and, in cold weather, automatically heated using a steam-pipe system before entering the cell. The rig can also be configured with a pressurized inlet, tied to the 40-psig central system, to provide higher Reynolds number test capability. A system can provide desired levels of turbulence, flow angularity, and boundary layer profile as well as create swirl-flow conditions.
Air exits the test section and enters the altitude exhaust system.
Special Features Detailed measurements of total and static pressure and three components of velocity are typically taken at nearly 2000 locations from the inlet to the exit of the diffuser. Also, surface flow patterns are photographed by using a fluorescent-oil dye and an ultraviolet light for illumination.