The New China Automotive Engineering Research Institute co., Ltd Full-Scale Aero-Acoustic Wind Tunnel

China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd (CAERI) has completed a new vehicle aero-acoustic wind tunnel (AAWT), which is located in Chongqing, China, and has been in operation for 5 years. To help addressing the Chinese vehicle market’s need to improve fuel economy, reduce exhaust emissions, and decrease product development period, the wind tunnel was designed and implemented to achieve a high degree of automation for vehicle testing next to a high aerodynamic and acoustic test accuracy for product development. The CAERI wind tunnel was in operation in June 2019, achieving a top speed of 250 km/h. A 5-belt rolling road system with a long center belt for proper wake simulation is installed inside, a test section with very low static pressure gradient and background noise. Wind tunnel calibration and customized measurement activities can be performed with an overhead traversing system. In the present paper, the main facilities of the AAWT are described next to necessary auxiliary equipment. The aerodynamic and acoustic performances of the CAERI AAWT are summarized. Brief comparisons of wind tunnel flow field parameters to the WLTP certification demand are included. In addition, drag measurement results of one sedan and one SUV are compared with measurements in the FKFS wind tunnel. After employing appropriate wind tunnel correction methods for both wind tunnels, the measurements are in good agreement, demonstrating the accuracy and stability of the CAERI AAWT test results.