Two People Working with a Water Tunnel Apparatus (Updated last month)

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Two people working with a water tunnel apparatus—a classic tool in fluid dynamics and aerodynamics research—alongside a data acquisition and control rack filled with instrumentation. The man on the right is adjusting or inserting a flow probe or dye injector into the water tunnel to measure or visualize flow characteristics. The man kneeling is likely tuning the control system—adjusting parameters like water speed, sensor calibration, or triggering data recording.

Tags: faculty, staff, and administration , historic technology

Added to SFSU Over the Years on September 1, 2026.

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Information

  • Identifier: TP-ATA-1930
  • Date: Nov 1971
  • Context: <p><strong>Water Tunnel Apparatus</strong></p> <ul> <li>The <strong>clear cylindrical tank</strong> is a <strong>water tunnel</strong>, the hydrodynamic equivalent of a wind tunnel.</li> <li>Inside, there appears to be a <strong>model or probe</strong> mounted on a rod, possibly for studying flow characteristics around submerged shapes (e.g., an airfoil, cylinder, or sensor).</li> <li>Water would flow through the test section, allowing visual or sensor-based investigation of flow behavior like turbulence, vortices, or pressure differences.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Control &amp; Measurement Rack</strong></p> <ul> <li>The equipment rack beside the tank is full of analog <strong>signal processing units, oscilloscopes, flow controllers</strong>, and <strong>chart recorder interfaces</strong>.</li> <li>The knobs and dials suggest control over things like:</li> <ul> <li>Pump speeds</li> <li>Flow rates</li> <li>Pressure differentials</li> <li>Possibly even temperature (if heaters or coolers were used)</li> </ul> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none;"><strong>Credits:</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none;">Some technical descriptions and historical interpretations were developed with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI.</p>
  • Geographic Coverage: San Francisco, CA
  • Temporal Coverage: 1970s
  • Type: Still Image
  • Format: Negative
  • Source: San Francisco State University Archives
  • Rights: Public

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