Abstract :
Wind tunnel is a tool used in aerodynamic research to study airflow
characteristics. With turbulence flow fluctuations in the wind tunnel, an effort is
needed to lower the turbulence intensity in the test section by installing a flow
straightener, with the initial parameter of the side lenght test section is 40 cm and
the entry speed is 15 m/s. After obtaining the geometry of the wind tunnel and flow
straightener, then a CFD analysis is carried out to obtain the comparison between a
wind tunnel without a flow straightener and a tunnel with a flow straightener, the
comparison of the flow straightener placement in the inlet contraction cone and the
flow straightener in the inlet test section, the comparison of 3 types of flow
straightener structures. namely squares, circles, and hexagons. Judging from the
comparison of velocity distribution contours, pressure distribution contours, and
turbulence kinetic energy, the best comparison of CFD simulation results is the
wind tunnel with the flow straightener placement in the contraction cone using a
squares structure. Manufacturing of the designs that has been created produces a
prototype that resembles a 3D design but has a less smooth surface.