Design and construction of an atmospheric display wind tunnel for virtual reality use

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Title Design and construction of an atmospheric display wind tunnel for virtual reality use
Publication Type thesis
School or College College of Engineering
Department Mechanical Engineering
Author Fisher, Charles Jay
Date 2009-11-19
Description This thesis discusses the design and construction of a unique wind tunnel that was integrated into the University of Utah Treadport Virtual Environment (UUTVE). The Treadport Active Wind Tunnel (TPAWT) increases the realism of environmental wind and dispersion simulations that are able to be conducted in the UUTVE. It has a number of potential uses, including military training, urban evacuation planning and physical therapy. The TPAWT design is very different from classical wind tunnel design and presented a number of challenging design constraints that required novel solutions. Several design concepts are presented, and the merits of each design are outlined and evaluated. The final design and selection of the fan unit, electrical system, air system, wind tunnel room geometry, and overhead heating elements (to simulate solar radiation) are validated. Various stages of construction are explained and the finished wind tunnel is presented. Results of initial wind stability trials without a controller indicate three stable modes of operation that should, when coupled with the appropriate control algorithms, meet the wind control expectations of the project. The Treadport Active Wind Tunnel currently creates a 0 to 12 mph wind at the user position with a maximum air speed of 22 mph.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Winds; Virtual reality; Wind tunnels
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name MS
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "Design and construction of an atmospheric display wind tunnel for virtual reality use" J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections TL8.5 2009 .F57
Rights Management © Charles Jay Fisher
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 17,665 bytes
Identifier us-etd2,130468
Source Original: University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
Conversion Specifications Original scanned on Epson GT-30000 as 400 dpi to pdf using ABBYY FineReader 9.0 Professional Edition.
ARK ark:/87278/s6f76sz9
Setname ir_etd
ID 192066
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6f76sz9
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