Qatar University (QU) and Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB) have established a collaboration in the field of wind tunnel engineering services.
Under QU’s College of Engineering (CENG), the agreement aims to carry out wind tunnel engineering services for the supreme committee for delivery and legacy (SC) Al Thumama Stadium Project related to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by QU president Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham and AEB Group CEO and chief architect Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah.
QU vice president and chief academic officer Dr Mazen Hasna, and CENG dean Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa, as well as officials from both institutions and CENG faculty and staff, also attended the event.
QU’s scope of work and services include a wind tunnel scheme and a detailed design stage Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) verification testing of flow field performance.
It will build a 1:300 scaled model using a thermal prototype and it will also test the aerodynamic performance of the model using smoke visualisation techniques and laser sheet visualisation.
Output from the qualitative tests include a series of well-captured high definition videos that could be used for verification of the CFD studies.
QU will provide wind tunnel engineering consultancy services conforming to the recognised international standards, guidelines and practices for similar projects and in compliance with AEB requirements.
“This agreement stresses QU’s continued determination to find solutions to the challenges facing the Qatar’s industry and community.
By this agreement, we seek to promote the common relationship with AEB and widen areas of collaborations between the two sides in the field of consultancy, research and development,” Dr al-Derham said.
“This would serve the domestic industry particularly the 2022 world football championship in Qatar in line with national priorities towards the achievement of a knowledge-based economy,” he added.
Jaidah said they looked into using labs from different parts of the world previously to do this highly specialised study of wind tunnel testing and CFD analysis verification.
“As a leading architectural and engineering local firm, we are proud to see such services available at Qatar’s leading educational institution,” he noted.
He believes that these services will greatly help young local engineers gain exposure and get involved in complex projects during their studies.
Jaidah also thanked the SC for encouraging local firms and universities to play a major role in the development of projects for the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
“Outputs will be a considerable contribution to QU in particular and Qatar in general, and will strengthen co-operation between the two parties towards sustainable and long-term solutions in line with the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the national research and development strategies,” Dr al-Khalifa said.