Ground testing facilities have been used since long in aeronautics and aerospace, as they have been developed for environmental and industrial applications. Nowadays they are still major sources of key data for investigations in all fields of fluid dynamics.
This hybrid lecture series (online / on-site) is organized for student and engineers to provide a general understanding of the design, operation and application of ground testing facilities from all speed regimes. Experimental methodology is exposed as well as the interpretation of the data and their extrapolation to real situation. The course includes an on-site presentation of the VKI facilities during a lab visit (for on-site participation only). A question/answer session will be organized for the online participants. The schedule of this session will be communicated later.
This Lecture series is based on the long tradition and experience developed at VKI on experimental testing.
The Director of this lecture series is Professor Olivier Chazot of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI).
Deadline to register for on-site participation: 2 January 2024
Deadline to register for online participation: 12 January 2024
Monday 15 January 2024
08:00 Registration
08:30 Welcome address
09:15 Overview of wind tunnels
Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
10:15 Coffee Break
10:45 Similarity rules and similitude methodology
Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Design and operation of subsonic wind tunnels 1
Benoît Bottin, ISIB and von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
15:15 Coffee Break
15:45 Design and operation of subsonic wind tunnels 2
Benoît Bottin, ISIB and von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
17:00 Reception
Tuesday 16 January 2024
09:00 Design, operation and testing in transonic and supersonic wind tunnels
Prof. Benoît Bottin, ISIB & , von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
10:15 Coffee Break
10:45 Wind tunnel development for environmental research activities
Prof. Jeroen van Beeck, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Test bench development for turbomachinery applications
Prof. Tony Arts, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
15:15 Coffee Break
15:45 Extrapolation from ground testing to real engine operation
Prof. Tony Arts, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
Wednesday 17 January 2024
09:00 High enthalpy and plasma wind tunnels design and operation
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
10:15 Coffee Break
10:45 Ground testing strategy for planetary re-entry simulation
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Visit of labs and VKI facilities: Low speed, turbomachinery, and environmental applications (only for on-site participations)
15:15 Coffee Break
15:45 Visit of labs VKI facilities: High speed and Plasma wind tunnels only for on-site participations)
Check out our eligibility criteria
Special reduction
Rebates can be given for group subscriptions along the following scheme :
- 5 persons of the same organization -2%
- 10 persons of the same organization -5%
- 20 persons of the same organization -10%
Sales Conditions:
| on-site - Undergraduate Students (Proof Needed) | 180.0 |
| on-site - PhD Students (Proof Needed) | 540.0 |
| on-site - Recognized Universities / Research Center | 1080.0 |
| on-site - Commercial Organizations | 1296.0 |
| on-site - Special Registration | 0.0 |
| online - Undergraduate Students (Proof Needed) | 162.0 |
| online - PhD Students (Proof Needed) | 486.0 |
| online - Recognized Universities / Research Center | 972.0 |
| online - Commercial Organizations | 1166.4 |
| online - Special Registration | 0.0 |
*Fees are VAT included.
**Prices include early bird -10% discount.
Introduction to Ground Testing Facilities 2024
**Early Bird Limit: Dec. 15, 2023
By purchasing this product you agree with our sales conditions.