Design Elements of a Novel Atmospheric Flow Simulator

We present the methods, design and development of a unique atmospheric wind flow simulator that ultimately aids in adding atmospheric wind display to a virtual environment (VE). Iterative design, in synergy with CFD simulations and physical experiments, has been used to design a quasi-two dimensional closed-circuit wind tunnel model for a VE. Passive control and active flow control have proven to be essential in producing desired flow characteristics for the system. Design and characterization of the vent flow system considers constraints such as original geometry and non-obtrusiveness to the user environment. Based on the flow characteristics of the fabricated system, a model of the vent regulation system is developed and tested. A system with controllable inlet velocity boundary conditions is thus developed. Experimental results show that the flow dynamics in the facility are within design constraints. The flow characterization provides important insights for development of a full-scale virtual environment that has diverse applications.