Aug 13 2013
MTS Systems Corporation, a leading global supplier of high performance test systems and position sensors, today announced that the world’s largest rolling road system is now fully operational at DNW (German-Dutch Wind Tunnels), one of the world’s most advanced specialized wind tunnel test facilities, located 100 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Deployed within an aerodynamic wind tunnel, the system provides a moving ground plane that is critical for accurately replicating the unique dynamics surrounding aircraft takeoffs and landings. Aircraft manufacturers use data generated by these tests to evaluate critical design elements, such as how engines are integrated with wing designs and the effects of landing gear and high lift devices.
“This state-of-the-art rolling road system delivers the speed, flatness and measurement precision needed to replicate higher landing speeds due to larger aircraft and steeper airport approaches,” said Dr. Rich Baker, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MTS Test. “These advancements will allow aircraft manufacturers to engineer innovations in design more quickly and efficiently to optimize an aircraft’s stability, performance and safety during takeoff and landing. It represents a real step forward in aerospace wind tunnel testing.”
At six meters wide, DNW’s new rolling road is the largest of its kind, operating at speeds up to 80 meters per second (approximately 180 miles per hour) — equal to that of rolling road systems used for testing Formula 1 race cars. Even at maximum speed, the system’s moving belt is designed to remain flat to ensure simulation accuracy. The moving belt also exhibits exceptional reliability and durability, especially critical for withstanding the rigors of powered takeoff simulations - during which engine exhaust flow is also simulated.
With the new rolling road system, DNW is able to offer their aerospace customers the most realistic simulations possible while benefiting from high levels of uptime. DNW is particularly satisfied with the system’s flatness and reliability, which enables their customers to simulate required test conditions with very high levels of precision and efficiency.
MTS President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey Graves is confident that DNW’s new rolling road system will enhance its customers’ ability to bring next-generation aircraft designs to market. “We’re committed to improving our customers’ competitive position in the global marketplace. This new rolling road system will enable DNW to accurately and efficiently conduct the most challenging wind tunnel tests, providing aircraft manufacturers the data they need to enhance designs more quickly and cost-effectively,” Graves said. “We are very pleased to be collaborating with DNW to extend what is possible in aerodynamic simulation.”
About MTS Systems Corporation
MTS Systems Corporation is a leading global supplier of high-performance test systems and position sensors. The Company’s testing hardware and software solutions help customers accelerate and improve their design, development, and manufacturing processes and are used for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products, and structures. MTS’ high-performance position sensors provide controls for a variety of industrial and vehicular applications. MTS had 2,147 employees and revenue of $542 million for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012. Additional information on MTS can be found on the worldwide web at http://www.mts.com.
About DNW (German-Dutch Wind Tunnels)
The Foundation DNW (German-Dutch Wind Tunnels) was jointly established in 1976 by the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), as a non-profit organization under Dutch law. DNW owns the largest low-speed wind tunnel in Europe, the LLF, and operates also the major aeronautical wind tunnels of DLR and NLR, which are fully integrated into the DNW organization. The main objective of the organization is to provide customers with a wide spectrum of wind tunnel test and simulation techniques, operated by one organization, providing the benefits of resource sharing, technology transfer and coordinated implementation of research and development results. Additional information on DNW can be found at http://www.dnw.aero.