Ten years of aero-servo-elastic tests at large POLIMI’s wind tunnel for active flutter control and loads alleviation

Abstract. Born in the autumn of 2001, but fully operational since 2023, the large wind tunnel of Politecnico di Mlano turns 20 this year and today it is one of the 4 large research infrastructures of the University. Designed, from the point of view of fluid dynamics, entirely within Politecnico, it is close circuit wind tunnel characterized by a particular design that includes two test sections. The boundary layer section (14m x 4m x 38m), located in the return circuit, is particularly suitable for testing objects subjected to the action of the wind such as bridges, skyscrapers, stadiums and large roofing systems; this section is widely used for research in the wind energy sector. The low turbulence section (4m x 4m x 6m), located as usual between the convergent and divergent parts of the tunnel, is mainly used for aeronautical tests, such as airplanes and helicopters, but not only. Suffice it to recall the numerous tests carried out in the field of sport aerodynamics, because the dimensions allow the equipment to be tested directly with the athletes. The paper briefly describes