Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics
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Safety Handling facilities
Earthquake Simulation Laboratories
Mechanical Engineering Facilities
Environmental Management Infrastructures
The von Karman Institute undertakes and instigates research in the field of theoretical and experimental fluid dynamics including numerical methods. Extensive research on experimental, numerical and theoretical aspects of fluid dynamics, sponsored mainly by outside agency and industries, is carried out at the VKI under the direction of the Faculty and Research Engineers. Highlighted research: - Aero-thermal performance investigation of fixed and rotating rib-roughened cooling passages; - Aerothermodynamics; - Experimental characterization and modelling of hazards: BLEVE and Boilover; - Solid propulsion for European launcher; - Flight experiments development; - Aero-thermal performance of HP turbines; - Aero-acoustics in air and ground transportation; - Turbulent flow simulation; - QB50: the first network of CubeSats; - Computer aided design optimization of turbomachinery components; - Nanoparticles production; - Multiphase flows; - Aerodynamics of low pressure turbines.
The von Karman Institute offers a wide variety of educational programs, from short training internships and final year projects for undergraduate students, to a full year of Research Master specialization, and a complete PhD Research program. The RESEARCH MASTER IN FLUID DYNAMICS (master-after-master): An accredited Master-after-Master specialization program of one academic year, with courses and master thesis project (60 credits). Teaching and supervision by the VKI faculty. The DOCTORAL PROGRAM: A multi-year program of basic research in fluid dynamics carried out in collaboration with a Belgian university or with the home university of the candidate. The SHORT TRAINING PROGRAM: A program to acquaint highly qualified undergraduate students with the practises of modern fluid dynamics. The BELGIAN UNIVERSITY MASTER THESIS PROGRAMME in fulfilment of the requirements of a Belgian University or Industrial Engineering school: Students enrolled in an engineering, industrial engineering or physics Master program at a Belgian University of Engineering School can carry out their Master Thesis project at the VKI under the supervision of a VKI faculty member, in agreement with their home university. The FOREIGN UNIVERSITY MASTER THESIS PROGRAMME in fulfilment of the requirements of a European or American University: Students enrolled in an engineering or physics Master program at a foreign (non-Belgian) University or Engineering School can carry out their Master Thesis project at the VKI under the supervision of a VKI faculty member, in agreement with their home university. The APPLIED RESEARCH ORIENTATION PROGRAM: graduates of the research master may be further instructed in the methodology of applied fluid dynamics and the practice of independent research.
The von Karman Institute organizes 8-12 one-week Lecture Series each year on specialized topics in the field of aerodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer with application to aeronautics, space, turbomachinery, the environment and industrial fluid dynamics. These courses have gained world-wide recognition over the years for their high quality, which is the result of a careful choice of subjects of current interest and lecturers known for their excellence in the field and willingness to co-operate in developing well-structured courses.
The von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics has some of the most important and largest wind tunnel testing facilities in the world. Those facilities include low-speed and high speed wind tunnels, plasma facilities such as the well-known "plasmatron", water tunnel, turbomachinery facilities such as the biggest compression tube in the world "CT-3", ground vehicle facility, wind gallery, water spray, aero-acoustics and solid propulsion facilities and industrial test rigs. The VKI Longshot free piston tunnel is a short duration facility that can be operated with either nitrogen or carbon dioxide and is designed to provide the attainment of very high Reynolds number hypersonic flows. The Plasmatron is a high enthalpy facility in which a jet of plasma is generated in a test chamber kept at sub-atmospheric pressure (between 5 and 200 mbar). The plasma is generated by heating a gas (argon, N2 ,CO2 ,air or any other gas mixture) to temperatures up to about 10000 K, using electrical current loops induced inside a plasma torch. Electrodeless inductively-coupled plasma generators of this type offer much better plasma purity compared to classical arcjets, as there is no pollution from any vaporized electrode material. The CT-3 turbine facility is able to reproduce the operating conditions encountered in the high-pressure stages of modern aero-engines and/or stationary gas turbines. The Reynolds and Mach numbers can be adjusted independently. Heat transfer between the hot gas and the cold blades is also reproduced. The VKI low speed wind tunnel L-1A has a free jet test section of 3m diameter and 4.5m length. The 4.2m diameter contra-rotating fans of this facility are driven by a variable speed DC motor of 580 kW, allowing a continuous variation of velocity from 2 to 60m/s. The contraction ratio is 4 with a typical turbulence level of 0.3%.
3-Metre Diameter Wind Tunnel L-1A 2x3 Metre Wind Engineering Facility L-1B Low Speed Wind Tunnel L-2A Low Speed Wind Tunnel L-2B Twin-Jet Low Speed Wind Tunnel L-6 Low Speed Mini Wind Tunnel L-7 to L-13 Cold Wind Tunnel CWT-1 Adaptive Wall Wind Tunnel T´-3.
15 KW Induction-Coupled Plasma Minitorch 1200 KW Induction Plasmatron.
Aeroacoustics Facility ACOUS Solid Propulsion Facility BOOSTER.
Water Spray Facility WS-1 Wind Gallery WG-1.
High Speed Train Simulation Facility.
Low Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel C-1 High Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel C-3 Calibration Facility C-4 Isentropic Compression Tube Cascade Facility CT-2 Isentropic Compression Tube Annular Cascade Facility CT-3 Internal Cooling Facilities LC1-LC3 Rotating Channel Facility RC-1 Low Speed Single-Stage Compressor Facility R-1 High Speed Compressor Facility R-2 High Speed Compressor Facility R-4.
Water Tunnel WT-1 Free-Surface Water Table.
Mach 2 Supersonic Transonic Wind Tunnel S-1 Continuous High Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel S-1 Mach 3.5 Supersonic Wind Tunnel S-4 Mach 6 Hypersonic Wind Tunnel H-3 Mach14 Free Piston Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Longshot.
Paint Roll Coating Facilities RO-CO Plate Galvanization Simulation Facility Essor Jet-Wiping Facility Ondule Multijet Facility for Metal Strip Cooling Drever Continuous Steel Casting Simulation Facility Vulcain Continuous Steel Casting Simulation Facility Pluton.