Mach 10 hypersonic wind tunnel

The University of Notre Dame’s Mach 10 Quiet Wind Tunnel with funding from the US Navy can simulate supersonic flight at high speeds, supporting scientists working in this field. The new facility can test hypersonic systems without disturbances, said researcher Thomas Corke, professor of engineering and director of the university’s Hypersonic Systems Initiative, Interesting Engineering reported on November 14.

The US Department of Defense uses wind tunnels for ground testing and tests new systems through simulation of supersonic flight at breakneck speeds in atmospheric conditions. Such testing enhances understanding of aerodynamics, thermal management and structural robustness. However, due to increased demand, the US government hopes the new tunnel at Notre Dame will help solve urgent problems.

Besides this tunnel, there are only two other quiet wind tunnels in the US: the Mach 6 and Mach 8 tunnels both at Purdue University. The Notre Dame facility not only adds capacity to the hypersonic testing ecosystem, but also enables testing at speeds near Mach 10, when fundamental aerodynamic changes occur.

The ability to fly supersonic at speeds from Mach 8 and above helps military and rescue aircraft reach many hot spots around the world quickly. To reach that speed, researchers need to improve the accuracy of temperature predictions and design effective thermal protection systems. Those are two issues the new facility at Notre Dame will take care of.

In 2018, the University of Notre Dame co-developed a Mach 6 wind tunnel with Purdue University. Weighing nearly 5 tons, the tunnel optimizes the combination of low noise and minimal cost. With an exit diameter of 60 cm and a test length of nearly 1.8 meters.