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Wind tunnel #1: Located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, this tunnel is used primarily for building studies and has a 2.4m (8 foot) wide working section.

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  • Wind Tunnel Testing

    Owning and operating four boundary layer wind tunnels makes RWDI the largest privately owned wind-engineering consultancy in the world. Services that commonly use the wind tunnel include the following:

    • Wind comfort, wind loading and wind induced vibration
    • Exhaust dispersion
    • Roof snow loading (using RWDI's proprietary FAE method)

    In addition, we utilize public wind tunnels for special testing requirements.

  • Benefits

    Wind Comfort, Wind Loading and Wind Induced Vibration

    Faster schedules: We are able to perform cladding and structural loading simultaneously for many projects. 

    Higher resolution and accuracy:  RWDI is able to provide simultaneous loading measurement on complex structures or multiple buildings at 1000 measurement locations. Complex analyses are supported by our QA process.

    Closer to you: With wind tunnels in three countries, design teams have a greater opportunity to witness testing of their projects.

    Cost savings: RWDI’s ability to provide simultaneous loading (between two or more buildings) reduces the costs of materials.  The accuracy of wind tunnels over code will often save the project money on construction materials.

    Exhaust Dispersion

    Balance safety and energy efficency:  Achieve sufficient dispersion and dilution of contaminants for cases with lower exhaust flow rates / exit velocities and energy recovery systems.

    Prevent costly retrofits and complaints: Solve problematic air contamination conditions at the design stage.

    Reduce building occupant exposure: Optimize the location of intakes and the design of stacks to reduce exposure to unsafe levels of airborne contaminants and nuisance odors.

  • Key Features

    Wind comfort: wind speed measurements in pedestrian areas such as streets, tunnels, terraces, stadiums.

    Wind-induced loading measurements:

    • Overall wind force measurement using high frequency force balance (HFFB) or high frequency pressure integration (HFPI)
    • Local component and cladding loads determined from surface pressures
    • Structural response measurement through aeroelastic models of bridges and buildings

    Smoke flow simulation: Useful for exploring design configurations.

    Exhaust Dispersion: Air quality impacts are quantified at the critical impact locations and stack height requirements, locations, flow rates, velocities, etc. are defined based on the limitations of the project (i.e., aesthetics, energy consumption, engineering limitations, etc.).

  • Resources