Ford investing $200M in next-gen wind tunnel complex
15 February 2017
Ford is investing $200 million in a new aerodynamic testing complex that will house a next-generation rolling road wind tunnel and state-of-the-art climatic chamber. The new wind tunnel complex will sit on 13 acres next to Ford’s current Driveability Test Facility in Allen Park, Michigan. The complex will house new innovative technology that delivers state-of-the-art real-world driving simulations to advance improvements in fuel economy. Construction starts this year.
Ford’s new wind tunnel complex better positions its engineers to conduct testing that proves out advancements in vehicle design. A new five-belt conveyor system can replicate real-world drag through a rolling road aerodynamic tunnel that enables Ford to bring the road to the vehicle, rather than the vehicle to the road.
To test for optimal fuel efficiency, each wheel gets its own belt. The massive fifth belt runs under the center of the vehicle, allowing airflow around the entire vehicle at speeds up to 155 mph. As a part of the rolling road belt cartridge system, a crane will be used to switch between the five belt and single belt systems—an industrial-sized plug-and-play approach bringing two testing methods into one. The single belt—which operates at up to 200 mph—opens up a new breed of testing for high-speed performance and racing vehicles.
Together with the rolling road, the wind tunnel complex will produce full environmental airflow simulation, with speeds from 155 mph to 200 mph. This expanded air-flow will enable engineers to validate vehicle designs at a higher quality and repeatability. This strengthens testing for aerodynamic shielding, high-speed performance and other design features.
The climatic chamber can get as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, colder than the Arctic, and as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than the Sahara.
This new wind tunnel facility will not only allow us to test our performance and racing vehicle line-up but will also enable us to share innovations across all our global Ford products.
—Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director
To accommodate large-frame vehicles, including Super Duty trucks, the new aerodynamic complex will “super-size” wind tunnel chambers.
The last comment answers the obvious question why make this?
"This new wind tunnel facility will not only allow us to test our performance and racing vehicle line-up but will also enable.."
This is more interesting and also mind boggling:
"To accommodate large-frame vehicles, including Super Duty trucks, the new aerodynamic complex will “super-size” wind tunnel chambers."
It will surely also test high speed belting - I wouldn't like to be near one if it were to break!
Reminded of this great read:
The Roads Must Roll - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roads_Must_Roll
"The Roads Must Roll" is a 1940 science fiction short story by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. It was selected for The Science Fiction Hall of
"The Roads Must Roll"
"At first, the reader is introduced to the revolutionary Van Kleeck, and is ..."uses a technique known as “the false protagonist”.
"describes a future where roads are moving strips, with buildings and even towns permanently on the" .."A set of fast-moving strips to move people over distances."Wide, rapidly-moving passenger platforms that reach speeds of 100 mph have replaced highways and railways ..."
"features a future in which a small union of engineers seize control of the nation's vital" Yaa!
Posted by: Arnold | 15 February 2017 at 12:32 PM