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

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.