Vortex Generators: Laboratory Pack for STEM Wind Tunnel

This is a simple LabPack for use with the Modular Low-Speed Wind Tunnel for STEM Education.

Here, you are invited to use smoke visualization to observe the airflow around some common “vortex generator” (VG) geometries.

These devices are often seen on aircraft wings, wind turbines, automobiles, etc. Their shape creates a streamwise vortex in the boundary layer, exchanging faster-moving flow in the outer boundary layer with slower-moving flow closer to the body. This energizes the boundary layer and promotes flow attachment, delaying or preventing separation for a variety of reasons:

• drag reduction (resulting in torque reduction on a wind turbine)
• delay of stall onset for aircraft at high angle-of-attack 
• ensuring the effectiveness of critical high-lift devices (flaps) and control surfaces (ailerons, rudders, etc.) by preventing flow separation
• noise reduction

Keep this LabPack organized together compactly using the provided Gridfinity base with the optional Accessory Tray.