Acoustic Reverberation Chamber Research Facility

National Research Council Canada, Gloucester, Ontario
What the facility does

Specialized, high-intensity acoustic qualification facility used for testing full-size aerospace components at high levels of sound pressure field

Areas of expertise

Unique in Canada, the National Research Council’s (NRC) noise testing facility operates two reverberation chambers.

Our experienced, professional and dedicated research staff is on hand to support clients' testing requirements from start to finish, from design of experiments to the creation of reports. Testing is tailored to our clients' projects, and we customize testing approaches and assist our clients in interpreting results.

The noise spectra in the chambers of the facility has been shaped to match specifications of the space shuttle, rocket launches, aircraft structural excitation, engine nacelle noise, unsteady turbulent airflows and other specifications. The high bay preparation area is a class 100,000 clean room facility with humidity and temperature control to handle large test articles. The facility is registered to ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System and produces quality test results that continually exceed our clients' expectations.

Research services
  • Acoustic qualification and testing of spacecraft flight hardware and satellite structures
  • Acoustic fatigue studies on aircraft components
  • Measurement of noise transmission and loss
  • Noise generation concepts and associated consulting
  • Hearing protector assessment
Sectors of application
  • Aerospace and satellites
  • Automotive
  • Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
  • Defence and security industries
  • Environmental technologies and related services
  • Manufacturing and processing
  • Mining, minerals and metals
  • Policy and governance
  • Transportation
Equipment Function 

Small acoustic chamber

 

  • Dimensions of 4.6 m × 4.6 m × 3.1 m
  • Sound pressure level greater than 120 dB

Large spacecraft acoustic chamber

 

  • Dimensions of 6.9 m × 9.75 m × 7.98 m
  • Sound pressure levels up to 157 dB

Closed-loop acoustic spectrum controller

 

Analyzes and controls the noise level in the chamber automatically to ensure accurate spectrum shaping between 25 Hz and 20,000 Hz with tight tolerances
Wyle WAS 3000 airstream modulators An electro-pneumatic noise source rated at 40 kW output over a frequency range of 25 to 10,000 Hz
Siemens Testlab data acquisition system
  • 200 channels
  • Maximum sampling rate of 50 kHz
  • MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates
  • Department of National Defence (Canada)
  • Defence Research and Development Canada
  • NASA