T6: The Oxford University Stalker tunnel

The University of Oxford has embarked on developing the UK’s fastest wind tunnel, T6, in collaboration with the University of Queensland (Australia) using technology pioneered by the late Professor Ray Stalker. The T6 facility couples the ex-Australian National University T3 free piston driver to the barrels, nozzles and test section of the Oxford gun tunnel. The facility can operate in three different modes; as a shock tube, a reflected shock tunnel or as an expansion tunnel. The T6 facility will be unique to Europe allowing for hypervelocity ground testing not possible in any current EU facilities, whilst having the flexibility to conduct tests across a large range of speeds and binary scaling products (ρL) of interest