Synopsis

The UTM Low Speed Wind Tunnel (UTM-LST) is the first aerodynamic wind tunnel in Malaysia of a reasonable size and capability for research and testing works in aeronautical and automotive related areas. UTM-LST was constructed in 1999 and fully operational in 2001, with a test section size of 2.0m x 1.5m and maximum wind speed of 280 km/h. This facility is the first of its kind in Malaysia and is accepted as a member of the international wind tunnel group of Subsonic Aerodynamics Testing Association (SATA).  Since then, the facility has been extensively used for academic and research works, and industrial testing.  The speaker will share his experiences in the planning, design and project implementation of this wind tunnel facility including its international transfer of technology aspects.

About the Speaker:

Ir. Mohd Khir, graduated with a B.Sc. Engineering Degree from Wichita State University, Kansas USA. Ir. Khir also has a MBA Degree from UiTM. He has over 29 years of combined engineering working experiences as an academic and practicing engineer. He started his engineering career with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 1986 as an academic at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. In 1994 he was appointed as the Head of the Aeronautical Laboratory, and the Project Leader for the design and build of a specialized aerospace research laboratory (wind tunnel facility). He has been involved in all stages of this project, from inception until the operational stages. He has accumulated design, testing, project management and contract administration experiences during his overseas attachments and involvements at various test facilities and organizations in UK, Canada, USA and Indonesia. Ir. Mohd Khir left UTM in early 2004 on optional retirement to join as the project director of an engineering company dealing mainly in infrastructures, and oil & gas engineering procurement services. He is currently involved in international development project financed by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He is a Past Chairman of IEM Southern Branch, and active in social works where he currently serves as the Honorary Secretary of Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Johor, a disabled children's organization.