Introduction to Ground Testing

Date: 19 - 21 January 2026

Location: online / on-site: Waterloosesteenweg, 72, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium - near Brussels

 

 

About the lecture series

Introduction to ground Testing 19-21 January 2026

Ground testing facilities have been used since long in aeronautics and aerospace, as they have been developed for environmental and industrial applications. Nowadays they are still major sources of key data for investigations in all fields of fluid dynamics.

This hybrid lecture series (online / on-site) is organized for student and engineers to provide a comprehensive understanding of the design, operation and application of ground testing facilities from all speed regimes.

Highlights:

  • General Understanding: Learn about the design, operation, and application of ground testing facilities.
  • Experimental Methodology: Gain insights into experimental techniques, data interpretation, and extrapolation to real-world scenarios.
  • Exclusive On-Site Presentation: On-site participants will enjoy a tour of the VKI facilities during a lab visit.
  • Interactive Q&A Session: Online participants can engage in a dedicated question/answer session, with the schedule to be announced later.

This lecture series is a unique opportunity to learn from the extensive experience and long-standing tradition of experimental testing at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI).

The Director of this lecture series is Professor Olivier Chazot of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI).

Programme

Monday 19 January 2026


08:30 - 09:00 Registration

09:00 - 09:15 Welcome address

09:15 - 10:30 The wind tunnel methodology
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 - 12:30 Subsonic wind tunnels 1
Prof. Benoit Bottin, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics and ISIB

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 15:15  Subsonic wind tunnels 2
Prof. Benoit Bottin, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics and ISIB

15:15 - 15:45 Coffee break

15:45 - 17:00 Visit of the L1 & S1 facilities (only on-site participants)

17:00 Reception

Tuesday 20 January 2026


09:00 - 10:15 Wind tunnel development for the Environemental and Applied Fluid Dynamics Department
Prof. Jereon van Beeck, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

10:15 - 10:45 Coffee break

10:45 - 12:00 Transonic & supersonic wind tunnels
Prof. Benoit Bottin, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics and ISIB

12:00 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 14:45 Test bench for turbomachinery
Prof. Tony Arts, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

14:45 - 15:15 Coffee break

15:15 - 16:30 Extrapolation to engine operation
Prof. Tony Arts, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

16:30 - 17:00 Visit of the turbomachinery facilities (only on-site participants)

17:00 End of day

Wednesday 21 January 2026


09:00 - 10:15 High-enthalpy/plasma wind tunnels
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

10:15 - 10:45 Coffee break

10:45 - 12:00 Supersonic nozzle design
Prof. Guillaume Grossir, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

12:00 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 14:45 GT strategy for planetary reentry
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

14:45 - 15:15 Coffee break

15:15 - 16:30 Visit of the hypersonic & plasma facilities (only on-site participants)

17:00 End of the day

Fee and Registration

  • Deadline for on-site registration: 5 January 2026
  • Deadline for online registration: 12 January 2026

 

  • Discount of 10% in case of online participation*
  • Discount of 30% for citizens from NATO countries*

* applicable on the price listed below

Early Bird Registration until 19 November 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €180
  • PhD students: €540
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1080
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1296

Late Registration after 19 November 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €200
    PhD students: €600
    Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1200
    Staff from commercial organizations: €1440

 

 

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