China research inst. opts for Flat-Trac

CHONGQING, China (July 22, 2016) — The China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI) in Chongqing has ordered a Flat-Trac Rolling Road System from MTS Systems Corp. to be used in CAERI's aero-acoustics wind tunnel laboratory.

By using the Flat-Trac system in conjunction with the wind tunnel, CAERI technicians will be able to measure air flow between the vehicle and road surface, along with the effect of rotating wheels on their aerodynamic profiles, thereby making the simulation as realistic as possible, MTS said.

“Concerns about the environment mean that automobile manufacturers need to improve the fuel economy of their models,” said Wang Yong, director of Automotive Wind Tunnel Center of CAERI.

Flat-Trac systems apply forces and motions to a tire running on a continuous flat belt, MTS said, allowing the user to gain insight into how a specific tire design affects vehicle dynamics by measuring tire force and moment.

“Combining MTS Flat-Trac Rolling Road technology with our wind tunnel resources will enable us to accurately capture and analyze data relating to a multitude of different test parameters,” he added. “From this, aerodynamic and structural design improvements will be possible that allow significant energy savings without compromising vehicle performance.”

MTS has been active in the Chinese market for more than three decades, working with Chinese OEMs and research laboratories, according to MTS President and CEO Jeffrey Graves.

“By working with CAERI, we are providing our Chinese automotive customers the latest in automotive test technology in order to accurately replicate real-world conditions,” Mr. Graves said, “reducing development cycle time and ultimately improving product performance. This will result in the design and production of next- generation vehicles that are not only more energy efficient, but will also help China address its challenge with air quality through reducing harmful emissions generated by these vehicles.”

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Established in 1965, CAERI is involved in developing vehicle technologies, along with performing numerous testing and quality inspection services.

Eden Prairie, Minn.-based MTS Systems is involved in the development and production of testing hardware, software and services solutions for a variety of industries.