Within the framework of the Competitive Central Hungary Operational Programme, several universities received non-refundable grants to strengthen their research infrastructure. Among them, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) secured funding for the creation of an atmospheric flows laboratory.
Wind tunnels are used for modeling various engineering tasks. They contribute to expanding theoretical knowledge while allowing practical testing of specific cases. The goal of establishing the Atmospheric Flows Laboratory was to create a wind tunnel for atmospheric boundary layer studies at an international standard, along with the necessary laboratory space and related measurement and computational technology. This type of wind tunnel is suitable for modeling airflows above the Earth’s surface, enabling the simulation of wind conditions and dispersion processes around terrain features, buildings, and other engineering structures.
As Hungary’s largest wind tunnel, it is capable of supporting research topics and industrial problems related to construction, architecture, and environmental protection at an international level. The laboratory was developed at the Kármán Tódor Wind Tunnel Laboratory at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME).
The project was implemented through the collaboration of three faculties at BME — Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Mechanical Engineering — involving five departments and numerous researchers with outstanding scientific achievements and industrial expertise.
In the new wind tunnel, precise determination of wind loads on tall buildings, wind-sensitive large-span tensile membrane structures, and bridges can be performed. This can help reduce construction costs or aid in designing risk-reducing measures during the reconstruction of existing buildings, such as historical structures with complex roof forms. Additionally, the laboratory can provide support in resolving urban planning and zoning dilemmas, enhancing the water security of natural bodies of water, and investigating various air pollution emissions.
Beyond facilitating national and international research collaborations, a key objective of the Atmospheric Flows Laboratory was to become a reliable partner and research infrastructure for the Hungarian construction and environmental protection sectors, thereby increasing the international competitiveness of these industries.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project VEKOP-2.3.3-15-2017-00017 under the Competitive Central Hungary Operational Programme.
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