Validation of Flat Surface Roadway Technology

MTS Systems has built and operated a vehicle test system called the Flat-Trac® Roadway Simulator. The system allows the measurement of handling characteristics of an automobile while holding it stationary in a laboratory. The automobile is driven as on the road with the machine providing relative motion by moving a flat surface beneath each tire. This paper presents the results of operating the system and compares machine data to test track data for a variety of vehicles and test procedures.