Through the NSF Summer Bridge Program I was given the opportunity to work in a very exciting lab at the University of Arizona. This summer of 1999 I worked in the Thermodynamics/ Heat Transfer lab in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering department. Under the supervision of Dr. Al Ortega and Dr. Wayne Jouse, I worked on a project involving the experimentation of jet engine components within an annular wind tunnel. Specifically, my job was to design and build a wind tunnel contraction to be contained within the tunnel and used to calibrate a directional pressure probe. This project has given me invaluable experience in engineering procedures. These include design experience with rapid prototyping and AutoCad , as well as actual "hands-on" learning of manufacturing techniques.
Please find below some interesting links to sites relating to this project.
University of Arizona AME department
Allied Signal (one of the department's sponsors)
for more information email Robert Van Buren