The T6 Stalker Tunnel (T6) is Europe’s highest speed wind tunnel, capable of producing flows in excess of 20 km/s. It is a multi-mode facility, capable of operation either as reflected shock tunnel, an expansion tunnel or a shock tube. The facility is driven by the T3 free piston driver, designed by the late Prof. Ray Stalker, being one of the most powerful created in the world. The facility was developed by the University of Oxford (McGilvray and Doherty) in collaboration with the University of Queensland (Morgan and Gildfind).
T6 Stalker Tunnel specifications in different modes of operation
| Facility | Reflected Shock Tunnel | Expansion Tunnel | Shock Tube |
| Testing type | Subscale model | Subscale model | Shock layer radiation |
| Test duration | 1-3 ms | 50-500 μs | 2-50 μs |
| Flow core diameter | 150-200 mm | 50-120 mm | 80 or 250 mm |
| Max flow speed | 6.5 km/s | 12 km/s | 18 or 9 km/s |
Specifications
- Free piston driver
- 9.5 m long, 300 mm dia. driver
- 250 MPa max pressure (cap at 75 MPa)
- Driven 1 & Driven 2 tubes
- 8.65 m long, 96.3 mm dia. shock tube
- Connections at 2.75 m, 7 m from P.D.
- Max 100 MPa (cap at 75 MPa, nominally Copper electroplated at throat
- Mach 7 and 8 contoured nozzles for reflected shock tunnel mode
- Aluminium Shock Tube
- 7 m long, 250 mm dia. shock tube
- Couples via expansion nozzle to Driven 1 tube
- Actuated traverse +/- 15 deg AoA. +/- 5 deg AoY
Schematic of the T6 Stalker Tunnel in Reflected Shock tunnel mode