National Wind Tunnel Facility

The National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF), is an initiative in which 17 wind tunnels distributed across 12 UK universities (host institutions) are made open access (for up to 25% of time) to external researchers in the UK and abroad, from both university and industry based.[1][2][3]

NWTF is intended to be as inclusive as possible while still supporting the best science. The scheme was announced on 9 January 2014 by David Willetts, Minister for Science and Universities.[4] The total initial funding for the facility was £13.3 million, £10.7 million coming from EPSRC and £2.6 million from the UK Aerospace Technology Institute.[5]

The EPSRC and ATI decided to fund the NWTF in order to match the UK talent base to world-class wind tunnel facilities. The enhanced UK capability in experimental aerodynamics is available to all UK-based researchers. The stated aim was to create nodes of excellence attracting young researchers. Another aim was to establish a closer tie with industry, creating a pull-through environment and an intended spill-over of the collaboration and benefits to other sectors.[6]

The initial NWTF programme had a duration of five years, ending in 2018. As of 2026, this was most recently renewed in 2023.[2]

Wind tunnels available

As of March 2026 the NWTF consists of the following facilities:[7]

Institution Name Designation
University of Birmingham Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) Open-circuit tunnel
TRAIN rig Low Speed, Train rig
University of Bristol Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Boundary layer wind tunnel
Aeroacoustic Low Speed, Aeroacoustic
University of Cambridge Transonic and Supersonic Open return blow down; two identical facilities
City St George's, University of London Transonic/Supersonic Closed return, induction driven
Low Turbulence Low Speed, closed return
Cranfield University 8ft x 6ft Low Speed Closed return
Low Speed 8x4 Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (LS3) Low speed closed return
Icing Tunnel Open return
Glasgow deHavilland Low Speed Wind Tunnel Low speed
Imperial College London 10ft x 5ft Low Speed Low speed, closed return
Supersonic Intermittent hybrid blow-down / suck-down arrangement
Hypersonic Intermittent impulsive facility
Loughborough University Automotive Open circuit, closed throat
University of Manchester Human-Flow Interactions Wind Tunnel Human-flow interaction wind tunnel
High Supersonic Tunnel (HSST) Blow-down
University of Oxford T6 Piston Reflected Shock Intermittent blowdown
Low Density Tunnel Rarefied flow
High Density Tunnel Heated Ludweig tube
University of Southampton R J Mitchell Wind Tunnel Closed return
Anechoic Anechoic
Towing Tank Towing and wave tank
University of Surrey Environmental Flow (EnFlo) Meteorological wind tunnel

Governance

The NWTF has a management board that meets quarterly,[8] and an advisory board that meets twice a year. The advisory board is composed of representatives from EPSRC, ATI, senior academics (from the UK and abroad), user representatives, an existing national facility manager and a wind tunnel manager.[9]

References

  1. ^ The proposal funding details on the EPSRC website: http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewPanel.aspx?PanelId=1-1O6B32
  2. ^ a b "About". National Wind Tunnel Facility. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  3. ^ http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewPanel.aspx?PanelId=1-1O6B32
  4. ^ News of the opening by the minister David Willetts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-25668025
  5. ^ News of the opening on the ATI website: http://www.ati.org.uk/news/uk-aerodynamics-epsrc-fund-national-wind-tunnel-facility-nwtf/
  6. ^ Details of the project: http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/L024888/1
  7. ^ "Our Facilities". NWTF. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Management Board". NWTF. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Advisory Board". NWTF. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
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