The New China Automotive Technology and Research Center Aerodynamic-Acoustic and Climatic Wind Tunnels

The China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) has completed two new wind tunnels at its test centre in Tianjin, China: an aerodynamic/aeroacoustic wind tunnel (AAWT), and a climatic wind tunnel (CWT). The AAWT incorporates design features to provide both a very low fan power requirement and a very low background noise putting it amongst the quietest in the automotive world. These features are also combined with high flow quality, a full boundary layer control system with a 5-belt rolling road, an automated traversing system, and a complete acoustic measurement system including a 3-sided microphone array. The CWT, located in the same building as the AAWT, has a flexible nozzle to deliver 250 km/h with an 8.25 m² nozzle, and 130 km/h with a 13.2 m² nozzle. The temperature range of the CWT is -40 °C to +60 °C with a controlled humidity range of 5% to 95%. Additional integrated systems include a variable angle solar simulator array, and a rain and snow spray system. This paper provides descriptions of the AAWT and CWT facilities including their sub-systems. The aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the AAWT and the CWT are summarized. Comparisons to published data from comparable wind tunnels are included. In addition, flow uniformity measurements in the AAWT from multiple axial planes are shown together to indicate the development of the flow over the first half of the turntable region.