AEDC makes donation in support of UTSI’s research

  • Published
  • By Deidre Ortiz
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  More than $200,000 worth of pressure measurement equipment from the test cells in the Engine Test Facility was recently taken to the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) campus to be used there.

Jim Sheppard, Netscanner System Manager at Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), stated the pressure measurement equipment from the test cells had been upgraded, so a decision was made to donate the older items to UTSI.

"The equipment still makes very good measurements, but we have better, faster equipment now," Sheppard said.

Originally scheduled to be excessed, contact was made with UTSI staff who said the equipment would be beneficial to the institute's laboratories.

"They are very happy to be getting [the measurement equipment]," Sheppard said.

Joel Davenport, associate director of the Technical Research Support Group at UTSI, commented the donation of the precision Ruska 7000 Digital Pressure Indicators will be used to support various research projects at the institute.

"Some units will be placed at the UTSI Propulsion Research Facility to provide barometric and other pressure readings in support of the GE-J85 jet engine operation," Davenport said. "Other units will be located at the various wind tunnels and water tunnels in support of fluid dynamics research at the university."

Davenport added that the institute greatly appreciates all the assistance it receives from AEDC.

"As a public university, funding for equipment can be hard to come by," he said. "This donation will allow us to stretch our limited funding further and will increase the capabilities at the Institute."

Located five miles from AEDC, Davenport noted a special partnership has developed between the institute and the Complex over the years.

"UTSI and AEDC have a close relationship that has existed since the founding of UTSI in 1964," Davenport said. "As we approach the 50th anniversary of UTSI in September, the relationship between UTSI and AEDC is once again strong and healthy.

"There are numerous research collaborations that exist between AEDC and UTSI, with a significant number of graduate students from AEDC currently working on thesis research projects at UTSI. Some of the thesis research currently being performed has direct applications to work being performed at AEDC. Several of the faculty also work closely with AEDC and the Air Force on various research programs."