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Cranfield 8 ft × 6 ft Low-Speed Wind Tunnel

Cranfield UniversityCranfield

NWTF lists Cranfield University's 8 ft × 6 ft low-speed wind tunnel as operational and closed return. Its current facility page publishes a 2.4 m × 1.8 m test section, a 5–45 m/s flow-speed range, and balances, a rolling road with boundary-layer extraction, and pressure and velocity measurement outputs.

Reviewed by Arc · About this review

Key facts

Published test section and speed range
NWTF lists a 2.4 m × 1.8 m test section and maximum flow speed of 45 m/s; its performance block gives a 5–45 m/s flow-speed range.
Published facility status
The current NWTF page lists the Cranfield facility as operational and identifies its designation as closed return.

Testing capabilities

Force, pressure and velocity measurement

The facility page lists multiple-channel high-speed data acquisition, with force and moment, pressure and velocity outputs using PIV and a four-channel hot-wire anemometer. It also lists smoke-filament seeding, high-speed video and surface-oil-flow visualisation.

Rolling road and model support

NWTF lists a rolling road with boundary-layer extraction, 6-component overhead, internal and under-floor balances, and four independent wheel-drag load cells. Its specialist-rig listing gives a 1.2 m × 2.77 m rolling road for airspeeds up to 45 m/s with two-stage boundary-layer extraction.

Equipment and published limits

Published equipment limits and conditions
SpecificationPublished valueConditions
Published test section and flow speed2.4 m × 1.8 m test section; 5–45 m/s flow speedThese are published facility figures. Confirm the usable model envelope, blockage, support arrangement and applicable flow conditions for a particular programme.
Published rolling road1.2 m × 2.77 m rolling road for airspeeds up to 45 m/s, with two-stage boundary-layer extractionThis is a specialist-rig listing on the facility page. Confirm model compatibility, wheel arrangement, support configuration and usable conditions with the facility.

Access and contact

The NWTF facility page says its wind tunnels are available to industry and academic researchers and provides a Contact route. The reviewed page does not state booking, current capacity, pricing, lead time or item-acceptance terms; confirm those directly with NWTF.

Facility contact

Address
Cranfield

Standards and accreditation

Public information not available. Contact test facility provider for more information.

What to confirm with the facility

  • Published test-section, flow-speed, rolling-road and measurement figures do not establish the usable envelope for a particular model, support system, wheel arrangement or test condition. Confirm those details with NWTF.

Before requesting a test

Public information not available. Contact test facility provider for more information.

Frequently asked questions

What measurement methods does the facility publish?

NWTF lists multiple-channel high-speed data acquisition with force and moment, pressure and velocity outputs using PIV and a four-channel hot-wire anemometer. It also lists smoke-filament seeding, high-speed video and surface-oil-flow visualisation. Confirm the applicable setup for a particular programme with NWTF.

  • Loughborough University Automotive Wind Tunnel

    Compare low-speed wind-tunnel force or surface-pressure measurements for the proposed article. Agree low-speed aerodynamic model, balance/pressure taps, mounting, Reynolds conditions, flow quality and reported coefficients.

  • Imperial College London 10ft x 5ft Low-Speed Wind Tunnel

    Compare low-speed wind-tunnel force or surface-pressure measurements for the proposed article. Agree low-speed aerodynamic model, balance/pressure taps, mounting, Reynolds conditions, flow quality and reported coefficients.

Further reading

  • Aerodynamics and aerothermal testing

    Browse aerodynamics and aerothermal testing for Force, pressure and velocity measurement. Compare the documented article, method and conditions in each entry.

  • Write a test procedure for a requirement

    For low-speed wind-tunnel force or surface-pressure measurements; low-speed wind-tunnel particle-image velocimetry; aerodynamic force or pressure measurements, specify the material or product, preparation, apparatus, loading or measurement steps and required observations before requesting a report.

Sources and review

Arc reviewed the linked NWTF facility page on 30 September 2026 by direct HTTP retrieval. This is a review of published information, not a facility inspection, test witnessing or confirmation of availability. Confirm model suitability, technical conditions and scheduling with NWTF.

Arc publishes this directory entry and does not operate the test facility. Suggest a correction to Arc with a supporting source.

  1. Cranfield University 8 ft × 6 ft Low Speed Wind Tunnel

    National Wind Tunnel Facility · Reviewed

    NWTF's current facility page is used for the Cranfield tunnel identity, operational status, test-section and flow-speed figures, published support/measurement systems and information route. It does not state accreditation, booking availability, pricing or item acceptance.