The development of a low speed wind tunnel for use in the physical modeling of the atmosphere

The need for physical modeling of atmospheric flow is demonstrated by a discussion of the complexity of the flow processes in the atmospheric boundary layer. To meet this need a wind tunnel was designed and constructed based on established design criteria and on work of previous investigators. The primary thrust of this thesis is to report the design, construction methodology employed in building the tunnel. A preliminary study of the flow inside the wind tunnel was made using a two channel hot film anemometer. The data from this investigation were compared with data obtained from the atmosphere and from other wind tunnel investigations. The velocity profiles in the wind tunnel were found to be similar to the atmospheric velocity profile as well as the profiles developed in other wind tunnels. The turbulence values were found to vary somewhat from the data reported by others. Suggestions are made for improvements to the tunnel to produce better similarity with the atmosphere.