Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Concordia University
$39,812.00
Wind tunnel dispersion measurement instrumentation
FY 2012-13
Summary
The Building Aerodynamics Laboratory of Concordia University located at the Engineering complex, houses a large atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel (ABLWT), the only one of this type in Quebec and one of the very few in North America. It is an open circuit, blow down tunnel 12 meters long and has a test section 1.8 meters wide by 1.8 meters high. Models of buildings and their surroundings are constructed at a geometric scale (typically 1:500 to 1:200) and placed on a turntable downstream of the incoming flow, which simulates the natural wind characteristics when wind blows towards from any direction. The ABLWT has been equipped with sensitive sensors and instruments used for accurate measurements of flow and pressure components depending on the particular application of interest. The facility has been used for numerous research studies with significant contributions in the field of wind engineering, mainly in the development of wind loading provisions for wind standards and building codes of practice around the world. Several hundreds of students, researchers, architects and engineers have been benefited by this facility in the course of the last 30 years.
The research carried out in the ABLWT requires measurements of dispersion of particles in different wind regimes. Such measurements take place with the help of a gas chromatograph (GC). The Building Aerodynamics Laboratory is equipped with a VARIAN Gas Chromatograph Model 3400, which has been used excessively since the early 90's. This excessive use and wear resulted in its failure several months ago! In addition, advances in the field of wind tunnel instrumentation increased the urge for the acquisition of a more sophisticated, user friendly, high resolution and, most importantly, environmentally friendly gas tracer. Such systems are now commercially available and funds are requested to obtain a GC to study wind-induced dispersion of pollutants in the urban environment. The need for this type of equipment is clear in order to continue the successful operation of this unique experimental facility at Concordia for the accomplishment of the applicant's research program and the education of a large number of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP).
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
440289-2013
Name nom
Stathopoulos, Theodore
Department département
Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Organization id
70
Institution établissement
Concordia University
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2012
Competition year année de concours
2013
Award amount
39812
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1509
Committee name en
Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie civil, industriel et des systèmes
Area of application code
1002
Area of application group en
Northern development
Area of application group fr
Développement du nord
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1001
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Construction engineering and management
Research subject fr
Génie et gestion du bâtiment
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Wind tunnel dispersion measurement instrumentation
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The Building Aerodynamics Laboratory of Concordia University located at the Engineering complex, houses a large atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel (ABLWT), the only one of this type in Quebec and one of the very few in North America. It is an open circuit, blow down tunnel 12 meters long and has a test section 1.8 meters wide by 1.8 meters high. Models of buildings and their surroundings are constructed at a geometric scale (typically 1:500 to 1:200) and placed on a turntable downstream of the incoming flow, which simulates the natural wind characteristics when wind blows towards from any direction. The ABLWT has been equipped with sensitive sensors and instruments used for accurate measurements of flow and pressure components depending on the particular application of interest. The facility has been used for numerous research studies with significant contributions in the field of wind engineering, mainly in the development of wind loading provisions for wind standards and building codes of practice around the world. Several hundreds of students, researchers, architects and engineers have been benefited by this facility in the course of the last 30 years.
The research carried out in the ABLWT requires measurements of dispersion of particles in different wind regimes. Such measurements take place with the help of a gas chromatograph (GC). The Building Aerodynamics Laboratory is equipped with a VARIAN Gas Chromatograph Model 3400, which has been used excessively since the early 90's. This excessive use and wear resulted in its failure several months ago! In addition, advances in the field of wind tunnel instrumentation increased the urge for the acquisition of a more sophisticated, user friendly, high resolution and, most importantly, environmentally friendly gas tracer. Such systems are now commercially available and funds are requested to obtain a GC to study wind-induced dispersion of pollutants in the urban environment. The need for this type of equipment is clear in order to continue the successful operation of this unique experimental facility at Concordia for the accomplishment of the applicant's research program and the education of a large number of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP).
