Willis Wu.
The project collection

03 / Mechanical

Wind-tunnel experimental hardware

I designed and built experimental hardware and instrumentation mounts for wind-tunnel testing.

My role

Research Assistant · mechanical hardware and instrumentation

Context

UTIAS · Turbulence Research Laboratory

Dates

May 2025 – Aug 2025

CAD render of the complete airfoil test-rig assembly, showing the airfoil body, both shaft ends, end supports, and motor.
Complete lab assembly · CAD renderCAD render of the airfoil test-rig assembly.View original

01 / The brief

Hardware around the experiment.

I developed mechanical hardware around a pivoting NACA 0018 airfoil and the lab’s instrumentation.

The complete lab assembly gives context for my hardware, mounting and instrumentation work.

  • I designed, fabricated and assembled experimental hardware and instrumentation mounts for the airfoil rig.
  • I integrated pressure sensors and pressure-tap systems for aerodynamic testing.

02 / Evidence & scope

Assembly and instrumentation.

I used assembly CAD views and lab photographs to document the hardware layout, mounting and instrumentation connections.

Subsystem

02
Exploded CAD view of the airfoil’s shell and internal components.
Project CADInternal assembly

Exploded CAD view showing the airfoil body and internal assembly.

View original
CAD end view of the airfoil rig and drive arrangement.
Project CADMounting & drive

End view of the rig’s mounting and drive arrangement.

View original

Hardware

02
Photograph of the opened airfoil rig and its internal hardware.
Lab hardwareInternal hardware layout

Airfoil hardware opened for inspection, showing the internal component arrangement.

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Close-up photograph of instrumentation connections inside the airfoil hardware.
Lab hardwareInstrumentation connections

Internal instrumentation connections in the experimental hardware.

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03 / Further work

Probe repair and calibration.

I designed a hot-wire probe repair/calibration fixture and modeled custom instrumentation brackets. I developed the mechanical support and access around the lab’s instruments.

Next project / 04

Rear-axle analysis