Modeling and Calibration of an Aerodynamic Cross-Wind Gust Test Facility

The aerodynamic forces induced on a passenger vehicle in response to a transient Cross-Wind Gust (CWG) are of great interest for the Automotive Industry. This paper focuses on the modeling and calibration of an aerodynamic disturbance test facility as it was researched during the construction of the cross-wind gust test facility at the Transportation Research Center, Inc.

The test facility consists of 6 independent cross-wind modules. Each module consists of a 100 HP engine and a 6-bladed propeller, and is capable of providing an average wind speed of up to 20.6 m/sec [46 MPH] at a distance of 6.1 m from the exit of the propeller's outlet duct. The 6-module test facility is capable of providing a minimum of 18 m of total test track (for straight pulse configuration) that is subject to a sinusoidal-shape wind profile. The effects of changing the driving engine speed were studied, as well as the effects of changing the distance between the test track and the exit of the propeller's outlet duct. The optimization of the facility output for a straight pulse configuration was performed using single and two-sided module setups through studying the effect of the different module settings such as changing the outlet flow angle (by using the outlet flow guiding vanes). The recent technology in simulation was used to simulate the engine-propeller module, and to predict the response of the system at different operating conditions.