;lowing in the wind
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Volvo has commissioned a 60 million (g15 million) ad:ed air-flow wind tunnel at iothenburg truck and car t. The new test facility will ised to investigate aerodyic developments in vehicle gns.
s 16m long test-chamber, accommodates full-size luction cars or half-scale :k models, has a rotating itable which is used to r the angle of the wind Ong the vehicle.
his enables Volvo's engirs to investigate the effect ide winds on vehicle stabi
. highly-accurate balance, ible of supporting vehicles ghing up to three tonnes, icorporated into the turntabase, to measure the ct of wind on a vehicle's pension.
'he computer-controlled d tunnel simulates a road ed of up to 200kmili tmph), with measurements he air flow carried out by a lote controlled instrument which is fitted with a rke generator. Wind flow :ern is recorded using laser nination and a video cam 'he test chamber also has a ish-huilt Brush chassis dyiometer to assist in the de) and location of air intakes driveline components. :ngineers working in a trol room overlooking the t chamber can determine wind speed of the tunnel ,vell as its humidity and iperature up to plus 60°C. A main computer monitors all data and reports the results to the control centre. In addition to its main function, the wind tunnel also acts as a climatic chamber.
To ensure a uniform airflow throughout the test chamber its sidewalls are slotted to avoid such irregularities as reductions in speed caused by the wind hitting the wall's surface.
The slots provide an allround airflow which is closer to the wind conditions encountered by a vehicle driving on the road.
The effect of the wind slowing down at ground level, known as the boundary level, is also counteracted by a suction outlet in the tunnel floor immediately ahead of the vehicle.
This removes the boundary layer, drawing down faster moving air over the ground which again is more representative of actual driving conditions.
Volvo will continue to use the larger DNW wind tunnel in the Netherlands for full-scale truck testing.