A virtual laboratory on fluid mechanics

Abstract

This paper describes the development of an interactive Web-based virtual laboratory on fluid mechanics at Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT), 1 which integrates animations, graphics and analysis results in order to achieve a realistic feel of the experiment and to enhance the students' understanding of some complex concepts of fluid mechanics. Based on existing real experimental setups, different experiment simulations were implemented using the Python programming language, such as a wind tunnel and an air flow rig. In the wind tunnel experiment, the lift forces for several kinds of airfoils can be experimented with virtually. The users can specify certain parameters for controlling the simulations and obtain the corresponding lift force outputs, including tables, figures and data listings. Furthermore, the users can display a 3-D rendering of the wind tunnel equipment in the graphical user interface as well as a 2-D animation of the stream lines. The simulation achieves a good degree of accuracy for steady state conditions over a wide range of parameters. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2006.