CONTRAERO

The CONTRAERO platform gathers the boundary layer wind tunnel of Villeneuve d'Ascq, the wind tunnels of ONERA and UVHC and the compressor bench of ENSAM.

The CONTRAERO platform is a regional platform dedicated to the study of aerodynamic flow control for the transport sector (road, air and naval). It brings together LMFL’s major facilities, which are the large boundary layer wind tunnel at Villeneuve d’Ascq, the three main wind tunnels (L1, L2 and SV4), the free flight and hydrodynamics laboratory at ONERA Lille and the CME2 compressor test bench at ENSAM. The platform also includes the large wind tunnel at LAMIH (UPHF) and the Micro-Nanofabrication facilities at IEMN.

The platform covers a broad spectrum, from understanding the fundamental physics of the flows concerned, through all the stages of testing on simplified assemblies, to demonstration on scale models. This broad spectrum is made possible by the complementary nature of the platform’s test facilities.

The CONTRAERO platform brings together LMFL’s major facilities, which are the large boundary layer wind tunnel at Villeneuve d’Ascq, the three main wind tunnels (L1, L2 and SV4), the free flight laboratory and the hydrodynamics facilities from ONERA Lille as well as the CME2 compressor test bench at ENSAM. The platform also includes LAMIH’s large wind tunnel and IEMN’s micro-nanofabrication facilities.

The platform’s wind tunnels are equipped with various devices specifically for flow control: transparent tunnel walls, mechanical assemblies, aeraulic supply, flow, speed and pressure gauges, etc. Thanks to the CISIT and ELSAT regional projects, this range of facilities has been considerably expanded and is now of a high national and international standard. Teams from the IEMN and CRIStAL also work in the wind tunnels on actuators, micro-sensors and closed-loop control under realistic conditions.

The shared use of the platform by the CNRS, the universities of Lille and Valenciennes, and the LMFL, IEMN, LAMIH and ONERA laboratories is governed by a consortium agreement. The platform represents a unique experimental research centre in France. It also carries out studies and services.

Website (French only) : http://contraero.univ-lille1.fr/