In June 2017, the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) received a HUF 411.24 million grant for the implementation of the project “Establishment of an Atmospheric Flow Laboratory” in the Competitive V Operational Program of the Széchenyi 2020 Program in Central Hungary. 2.3.3-15 “Strengthening research infrastructures – internationalization, networking”. 75% of the support was covered by the European Union and 25% by the Hungarian state.

Atmospheric flows to the natural earth’s surface and man-made objects – e.g. They affect artefacts and structures, so the Atmospheric Flow Laboratory (AAL) provides transport opportunities for architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers and meteorologists at the same time. Therefore, the application was developed jointly by the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering of BUTE with the participation of six departments, and the researchers of the faculties also cooperate in the research projects planned in the laboratory.

Within the framework of the project, BME developed the Kármán Tódor Wind Channel Laboratory, located in the AE building on the central campus, established in 1938, including Hungary’s largest research wind channel, to a cutting-edge level so that it is suitable for the international analysis of atmospheric flows. Thus, the research programs in the laboratory, which are in line with the original goals of the project, examined it safely; In order to increase the water safety of our lakes, the wind effect can be precisely determined under real terrain and roughness conditions. The wind tunnel is an important tool for refining the rapidly evolving flow numerical simulation software and increasing its reliability. The laboratory thus provides an international research background for the research of architectural, civil and mechanical engineering in the coming decades in the study of near-Earth atmospheric flows, and at the same time helps the involvement of Hungarian experts in international research networks. The wind tunnel laboratory and the team of experts of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering of BUTE, continuing the traditions, but also with modern equipment for the examination of wind-sensitive structures, tall buildings and bridges. Knowing the measurement results, the operational safety of the structures can be increased, construction costs can be reduced, or risk mitigation measures can be planned more easily during the reconstruction of buildings, such as historic buildings with complex roof shapes.

The most important elements of the project were:

1. The wind tunnel laboratory has undergone significant technological development. The electrical power available in the building was expanded to increase the final speed of the wind tunnel, and a new modeling workshop was set up, but a laser optics laboratory, research offices and a warehouse were also set up. The area affected by the conversion is 578 m2.

2. BME emphasizes the majority of the project resources for the development of the measurement technology of the wind tunnel, supplementing the originally planned acquisition of instruments with a so-called particle image analysis. With the PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) speed measurement system, which allows the flow of the flow around building models in the wind tunnel with special cameras, the current image can be mapped in detail. This equipment is a leap forward, a necessary advance in the laboratory measurement practice of the canal. Other new meters include a laser Doppler anemometer to measure flow velocity and a digital image correlation (DIC) system to measure the deformation of structures with high accuracy in three dimensions.

3. The creation of wind tunnel models is aided by modern machines: 5 degrees of freedom robot cells, laser cutting machines, 3D printers, and drilling and milling machines.

4. New computational capacity for numerical simulation of flows: workstations and simulation software have been procured.

In addition to facilitating domestic and international research collaborations, retaining research jobs and creating new research jobs, the Atmospheric Flows Laboratory’s main goal is to further strengthen and expand the partnership with the Hungarian construction and environmental sectors, and to become their long and planned regular research background infrastructure. . , thus increasing the international competitiveness of these sectors.