Ford's new system takes wind tunnel testing on tour - https://t.co/K020WdSF5i pic.twitter.com/zvVNKaiyqD
— Gizmag (@gizmag) May 9, 2016
You have been obsessed with do-it-yourself projects since you were a kid watching MacGyver. The idea of making something useful, or fixing something broken with only simple tools and re-purposed items you had on hand was strangely satisfying.
You might enjoy Ford's latest aeroacoustic testing device -- a wind tunnel constructed out of two 53-foot shipping containers.
Technical Specs:
- Number of fans: 2
- Diameter of fans: 6 feet
- Max wind speed: 80mph
- Total system power: 500 horsepower
- Noise generated: 75 decibels
- Time to assemble: 6 hours
These shipping crate wind tunnels are portable, so they can be unpacked at Ford manufacturing plants around the country, then disassembled and delivered to another plant. Before this system was devised, manufactured vehicles would have to be shipped across the country to one of Ford's full-size aerodynamics laboratories.
These stationary labs are highly advanced, with the latest in measuring and analysis equipment for detecting cabin noise and wind resistance, but they cost $50 million to build, and test cycles could take weeks to complete.
The portable wind tunnel still allows sensitive measurements of cabin noise in simulated highway speeds to be taken, but shortens up the test cycle from weeks, to hours. It also allows for instantaneous feedback and communication between noise engineers and assembly plant technicians, because the cabin noise tests are done right at the factory.
Want to conduct your own cabin noise tests? Visit McLarty Ford to test drive new Ford vehicles in Texarkana.
Categories:
News