The aerodynamic and hydraulic laboratories at hepia, formerly known as “Ecole des Arts et Métiers”, have been around since 1905. They were originally located near the main train station in Geneva (Cornavin), and were then moved to Rue de la Prairie. Their activities were mainly focused on the aerodynamics of light aircraft and sail planes, hydraulics, and engines.

Assembling of a didactic, Göttingen-type wind tunnel in
the old site at Rue de la Prairie (1970)

Projects have since embraced a much wider spectrum:

- Aeronautics

- Rocketry, propulsion systems based on heated water (Pohwaro), liquid fuels and powder

- Building aerodynamics

- Sports

- Measurement systems

- Train and vehicle aerodynamics

- Hydraulic machinery

- Industrial processes

Since the 80’s, numerical simulations have become an important part of the activities. In 1982, a supersonic flow numerical code was developed, and by 1984, a transonic code was written.

Development of an implicit-type code for the
modeling of transonic flows (1984)

Since 1987, the aerodynamics laboratory has been located underneath the Pont Butin (one of Geneva main bridges over the Rhône river) at Petit Lancy, within the laboratory that was formerly owned by Hispano-Suiza. The laboratory is located inside a tunnel that was originally intended as a train tunnel. It was modified into a laboratory environment and is now instrumented with modern research installations, which include:

- A large subsonic wind tunnel (approximately 55 m in length)

- A laboratory-type room where are located various subsonic wind tunnels, a supersonic wind tunnel, as well as a machine shop

- An instrument calibration room

- Offices and work rooms

- A library

- Fuel storage rooms

- Powerful computing units for flow simulations

At about the same time, the laboratory for applied energetics was moved to the old Verntissa factory in Vernier (Geneva).

In 2002, the laboratories of aerodynamics, applied energetics, and hydraulic machinery were merged into a single entity, “cmefe”, a competence Center for Mechanics of Fluids and Energetic processes.

cmefe large wind tunnel at Pont Butin (1995)

cmefe activities now cover two main strategic axes, which are the application of experimental and numerical fluid mechanics to industry, civil engineering, the environment and sports; as well as energetics.

Modeling of a dielectric jet (2005)