By fitting fabrics to these cylinders, we can directly compare their aerodynamic performance on different parts of the body. This makes it possible to identify the best-performing fabrics for the arm, leg, and torso separately, and then combine them to create an optimised suit.

The tunnel reaches speeds of up to 22 m/s, enabling fabrics of all types to be tested at realistic Reynolds numbers and matched to actual race speeds when necessary. A custom-built force balance and data-acquisition system ensures precise measurement of drag forces throughout testing.

Although the system is primarily used for fabric testing, the setup also accommodates many other small-scale aerodynamic investigations.