The high speed water tunnel at the California Institute of Technology

Abstract

The high speed water tunnel was established at the California Institute of Technology to study the forces acting upon moving bodies immersed in a fluid. The working section of the tunnel is 14 inches in diameter and 6 feet long and velocities up to 72 feet per second are obtained in it. The model to be tested is mounted on the spindle of a three component balance which measures the drag force, the yaw or lateral force and the moment about the spindle support. The angle of inclination of the model to the flow direction can be adjusted easily. From these measurements are determined the magnitude and location of the resultant forces acting on the model. In order to study cavitation, the pressure in the tunnel is made adjustable and a transparent working section is provided for visual and photographic observations. For qualitative assistance in interpreting the results of the tunnel studies in terms of the effects of the body shapes on the flow pattern, an auxiliary flume is available. The flow is made visible by use of a new technique employing polarized light.