Modernization of the Missouri University of Science and Technology SupersonicWind Tunnel

The modernization of the Missouri University of Science and Technology’s supersonic wind tunnel has enabled the integration of advanced, non-intrusive, laser-based diagnostic techniques critical to contemporary high-speed flow research. This work presents the combined upgrade of the facility and the implementation of two major diagnostics: Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (Tomo-PIV), capable of resolving all three velocity components in volumetric flowfields, and two-point Focused Laser Differential Interferometry (FLDI), a high-sensitivity tool for measuring density fluctuations in compressible flows. A modular test section with configurable optical access was developed to support these techniques, along with updates to the nozzle and diffuser. As a conclusion to this effort, a comprehensive characterization of the modernized tunnel has been carried out using Tomo-PIV, verifying acceptable flow uniformity, angularity, and turbulence levels. Together, these upgrades significantly expand the experimental capabilities of the Missouri S&T Supersonic Wind Tunnel, supporting both fundamental and applied research in supersonic aerodynamics.