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University of Bristol Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel

University of BristolBristol

NWTF describes Bristol’s aeroacoustic facility as a quiet closed-circuit wind tunnel with a large anechoic chamber. It supports aerodynamic loads, near-field and far-field noise, microphone-array source localisation and flow measurements, including aerofoil and rotor work. Conflicting nozzle and speed figures are left for direct confirmation.

Reviewed by Arc · About this review

Key facts

Aerodynamic and acoustic facility
The current NWTF page describes a closed-circuit wind tunnel and an anechoic chamber for aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance measurements.

Testing capabilities

Noise and aerodynamic loads

The labelled testing block lists near-field and far-field acoustic outputs, force plates, force cubes and load cells, together with time-resolved PIV and hot-wire or hot-film measurements.

Source localisation and rotating rigs

Published rigs include source-localisation microphone arrays, single- and multi-rotor propeller systems and instrumented aerofoils, high-lift devices, cylinders and jet nozzles.

Equipment and published limits

Published equipment limits and conditions
SpecificationPublished valueConditions
Acoustic chamber descriptionApproximately 7 × 4.5 × 3.5 m; anechoic down to 160 HzThe current page attaches these figures to the acoustic chamber. They are not nozzle size, usable model envelope or universal measurement uncertainty.

Access and contact

The NWTF page says the facility is available to academic and industry researchers and links to a contact route. Confirm nozzle, speed, current microphone configuration and the required loading and acoustic measurements.

Facility contact

Address
Bristol

Standards and accreditation

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

What to confirm with the facility

  • Different page sections and the linked undated sheet give conflicting nozzle, speed and instrument-count figures. This guide omits those disputed values; ask the operator for the current configuration and usable test envelope.
  • Agree acoustic bandwidth, model or rotor geometry, mounting, flow conditions and synchronisation needs with the operator.

Before requesting a test

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

Frequently asked questions

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

  • University of Bristol Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel

    Compare low-speed wind-tunnel particle-image velocimetry for the proposed article. Agree low-speed model/flow, particle seeding, illumination/camera geometry, sampling and velocity-field report.

  • Loughborough University Automotive Wind Tunnel

    Compare low-speed wind-tunnel particle-image velocimetry for the proposed article. Agree low-speed model/flow, particle seeding, illumination/camera geometry, sampling and velocity-field report.

Further reading

  • Acoustic

    Browse acoustic for Noise and aerodynamic loads. Compare the documented article, method and conditions in each entry.

  • Aerodynamics and aerothermal testing

    Browse aerodynamics and aerothermal testing for Noise and aerodynamic loads. Compare the documented article, method and conditions in each entry.

  • Write a test procedure for a requirement

    For low-speed wind-tunnel particle-image velocimetry; aeroacoustic noise and flow measurements; PIV or laser-Doppler flow diagnostics, specify the material or product, preparation, apparatus, loading or measurement steps and required observations before requesting a report.

Sources and review

Arc reviewed the current NWTF facility page and its linked undated data sheet on 13 October 2026. The guide retains supported identity and methods and records the specific source conflict. The data-sheet status is not treated as the current commissioning status. Confirm current equipment, configuration and project suitability with the operator.

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

  1. Aeroacoustic - NWTF

    National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF) · Reviewed

    The exact NWTF original supports the named aeroacoustic facility and listed acoustic/aerodynamic methods. Conflicting nozzle/speed and instrument counts across prose and blocks are not asserted as universal limits.

  2. University of Bristol Anechoic Wind Tunnel LS11 data sheet (undated)

    National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF) · Reviewed

    The observed linked data sheet is retained as an undated original for the specific comparison and scope qualification. Its historical-looking status or conflicting values are not converted into a present operating or commissioning claim.