Aerodynamics Research Center

The Aerodynamics Research Center has existed at the university in one form or another since the 1930s, when it was originally an aircraft maintenance and fabrication facility. The present ARC was built in 1986, allowing for a large expansion of equipment which now includes low-speed, transonic, supersonic, arc jet, and hypersonic tunnels. Current research has focused on experimental high-speed and high-temperature aerodynamics, shock/boundary layer interaction, and detonation. In addition to the experimental facilities, we have extensive capabilities to study and test aerodynamic models using computational fluid dynamics. The experimental test results can be used to validate the CFD models, and vice-versa. Our clients and sponsors include both corporate and government organizations.