Wind tunnel testing for bridges, buildings and offshore structures

Test structures in a wind tunnel to document aerodynamic behaviour under controlled flow and climatic conditions.

The facility supports engineering teams working with structures exposed to wind and climatic loads. It is relevant when bridges, buildings, ships, maritime structures, wind turbines or offshore installations require physical testing in controlled conditions.

When testing becomes necessary

The need arises when aerodynamic behaviour must be investigated under defined flow conditions, or when climatic effects such as icing must be assessed. Unresolved issues can delay design decisions.

What the facility covers

The wind tunnels support experimental investigations in civil engineering, including aerodynamic testing of bridges, buildings, ships, maritime structures, wind turbines and offshore installations. The climatic wind tunnel can also be used to test bridge cables at low temperatures.

Wind tunnel test setup with a bridge scale model illuminated by green laser light, showing airflow patterns and turbulence around the structure. — Smoke visualisation around a bridge model during wind tunnel testing under controlled flow conditions.

Target group and benefits

Support engineering teams by providing controlled wind tunnel testing for structures that require documented aerodynamic and climatic investigation.

The facility is relevant for engineering teams working with civil structures, maritime projects, offshore installations, wind energy applications and aviation-related planning. It supports users who need physical test results for structures such as bridges, buildings, ships, maritime structures, wind turbines and other offshore installations. The facility is also relevant when examining bridge cable behaviour under climatic conditions.

How results are used in practice

The outcomes are used to investigate aerodynamic behaviour under defined test conditions and to support technical decisions in design and project development. In practice, the value lies in obtaining documented observations from a controlled test environment that can be used in engineering assessments and further project work.

Discuss your wind tunnel test setup

Contact our team to discuss which wind tunnel matches your structure, test scale and climatic or flow conditions.

Use cases

Test structures in controlled wind tunnel environments to support engineering decisions on aerodynamic response, climatic effects and design.

Bridge testing

Test bridge components, full sections and scale models in a controlled wind tunnel environment to investigate aerodynamic behaviour under defined flow conditions. This supports engineering assessments and helps identify whether adjustments are needed in the bridge design or in structural response measures.

Building and civil structure studies

Use the wind tunnels for experimental investigations related to civil engineering, including buildings and other structures exposed to wind. Testing provides documented observations under controlled conditions that can be used in project work where wind effects influence design decisions and structural evaluations.

Ships and maritime structures

Carry out wind-tunnel testing of ships and maritime structures to assess aerodynamic effects relevant to operations and project requirements. The facility supports extensive testing of these structure types in a physical setup where dimensions and wind speeds can be selected to match the investigation.

Climatic testing of bridge cables

Use the climatic wind tunnel to test how bridge cables respond to climatic conditions, including low-temperature environments combined with airflow. This provides a documented basis for assessing cable behaviour and identifying measures needed to improve bridge safety under icing-related conditions.

Facility specifications

Use five wind tunnels with defined test-section sizes, flow velocities and climatic capability to match different structure types and investigation needs.

Closed circuit wind tunnel (WT1)

Test section dimensions are 0.7 x 1.0 x 2.6 m, with a maximum flow velocity of 70 m/s. This setup supports investigations requiring high flow velocity within a compact test section.

Boundary layer wind tunnel (WT2)

Test section dimensions are 1.8-2.3 x 2.6 x 20.8 m, with a maximum flow velocity of 24 m/s. The long test section supports studies where a boundary layer flow setup is needed for larger models or longer exposure length.

Wide boundary layer wind tunnel (WT3)

Test section dimensions are 1.7 x 13.6 x 15.0 m, with a maximum flow velocity of 7.5 m/s. The wide format supports testing of broader models and sections where lateral space is important.

Truncated wide boundary layer wind tunnel (WT4)

Test section dimensions are 1.7 x 7.5 x 9.0 m, with a maximum flow velocity of 12 m/s. This tunnel provides a wide test area in a shorter setup for investigations that do not require the full length of WT3.

Climatic wind tunnel (WT5)

Test section dimensions are 2.0 x 2.0 x 5.0 m, with a maximum flow velocity of 32 m/s. Temperature can be reduced to -5°C at 25 m/s and to -10°C at lower flow velocity, supporting tests where airflow and low-temperature conditions must be combined.

Facility setup

Choose the wind tunnel setup that fits the model size, flow conditions and climatic test needs of the investigation.

Selection by test need

The facility includes five wind tunnels, so the setup can be selected according to the purpose of the investigation and the required test environment.

Selection by model dimensions

Test section size can be matched to the dimensions of the component, section or scale model being tested. This is important when the physical layout of the test object requires either a compact, long or wide setup.

Selection by flow conditions

Maximum flow velocity varies across the tunnels, allowing selection of a setup that matches the defined flow conditions for the investigation.

Locations

Access wind tunnel testing facilities in Lyngby for aerodynamic investigations of structures under controlled flow and climatic conditions.

Lyngby

Hjortekærsvej 99

2800 Kgs. Lyngby

Phone: +45 43 25 14 00

E-mail: Info@forcetechnology.com

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Reach out to Jesper Grundsøe for more information.