Preliminary Structural Design of a Mach 6 Wind Tunnel Pressure Vessel
Location
Havener Center, Miner Lounge / Wiese Atrium, 9:30am-11:30am
Start Date
4-1-2026 9:30 AM
End Date
4-1-2026 11:30 AM
Presentation Date
April 1, 2026; 9:30am-11:30am
Description
Operation at Mach 6 imposes substantial thermal and pressure loads on wind tunnel structures, requiring careful consideration of strength, safety, and dimensional stability. This work presents a preliminary structural design study for the pressure vessel and supporting framework of Missouri S&T’s developing hypersonic wind tunnel facility. Key design requirements, including elevated stagnation pressures and temperatures, are evaluated to inform material selection and structural configuration. Industry standards and existing hypersonic tunnel designs are reviewed to establish appropriate safety factors and design practices. Initial analyses are conducted to estimate wall thicknesses and assess stress distributions under representative loading conditions. The study also considers the effects of thermal loading on structural integrity and deformation. Results provide baseline design parameters and highlight critical challenges associated with high-speed operation. This work establishes a foundation for subsequent detailed structural design and analysis of the facility.
Biography
I am a junior studying Aerospace Engineering. I am currently doing undergraduate research at the Aerodynamics Research Laboratory here at Missouri S&T. For my research, I have been designing a plenum and the structural supports for our upcoming Mach 6 Wind Tunnel design. I also work at the universities Makers Studio, where I am our CNC machine lead. In the future, I hope to work in the defense industry, specifically in the hypersonic and propulsion sector.
Meeting Name
2026 - Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference
Department(s)
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Document Type
Poster
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
event
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2026 The Authors, All rights reserved
Preliminary Structural Design of a Mach 6 Wind Tunnel Pressure Vessel
Havener Center, Miner Lounge / Wiese Atrium, 9:30am-11:30am
Operation at Mach 6 imposes substantial thermal and pressure loads on wind tunnel structures, requiring careful consideration of strength, safety, and dimensional stability. This work presents a preliminary structural design study for the pressure vessel and supporting framework of Missouri S&T’s developing hypersonic wind tunnel facility. Key design requirements, including elevated stagnation pressures and temperatures, are evaluated to inform material selection and structural configuration. Industry standards and existing hypersonic tunnel designs are reviewed to establish appropriate safety factors and design practices. Initial analyses are conducted to estimate wall thicknesses and assess stress distributions under representative loading conditions. The study also considers the effects of thermal loading on structural integrity and deformation. Results provide baseline design parameters and highlight critical challenges associated with high-speed operation. This work establishes a foundation for subsequent detailed structural design and analysis of the facility.
Comments
Advisor: Davide Vigano, dvigano@mst.edu