18495859. AUTOMATED AERODYNAMIC TESTING SYSTEM (FCA US LLC)
AUTOMATED AERODYNAMIC TESTING SYSTEM
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AUTOMATED AERODYNAMIC TESTING SYSTEM
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18495859 titled 'AUTOMATED AERODYNAMIC TESTING SYSTEM
Original Abstract Submitted
An aerodynamic testing system for determining the shape characteristics of a test object by employing a mixture of cold air and water vapor in an open-circuit wind tunnel. The system integrates a chiller and an air induction device to produce cold air that's combined with water vapor at temperatures at, around, or below freezing. A fluid dispersion device introduces water vapor into the tunnel. The wind tunnel walls are heated above freezing using an embedded heating element to prevent icy buildup. During testing, the test object is positioned on a specialized load cell equipped with multiple transducers and a support plate. The load cell measures aerodynamic forces on the test object. Concurrently, the support plate keeps the test object at or near freezing temperatures. All acquired data, including drag metrics and a 3D scan of the object, are systematically stored in a dedicated database or storage medium.