ACE – Climatic Wind Tunnel

Ontario Tech University (University of Ontario Institute of Technology), Oshawa, Ontario
What the facility does

Product development and aerodynamic testing with Climatic Wind Tunnel and test chambers

Areas of expertise

ACE (Automotive Centre of Excellence) is a world-class R&D facility and has the experienced engineers and technicians to deliver solutions to any product development or testing problem.

Our environment can re-create any weather conditions a test object will experience anywhere in the world, from the blistering heat in Death Valley to the frigid conditions in the Arctic. We can test vehicles operating under full load with crosswinds and wind speeds up to 280 km/h.

We use our multiple chambers to:

  • Inspire students
  • Conduct research
  • Test automotive, architectural and aerospace products
  • Improve the performance of elite athletes and first responders
  • Provide services to many other markets including the tech industry, film production and motorsports

Automotive

Thermal Management is our core business. We work with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from around the world on vehicle testing. ACE is a leader in electric vehicle, autonomous vehicle and electric charging research and part of the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN).

Defence

ACE is Controlled Goods Certified and has worked with global aerospace, defence and security companies.

Architectural / Civil Engineering

The facility can work with you to conduct up to Category 4 hurricane testing, snow load testing, rain penetration testing and other climate-based testing.

Research services
  • Test 280 km/h wind, -40C to +60C, rain, snow, ice, freezing rain, noise and vibration
  • Engineers and operators on staff to support activity and help develop test plan
  • Fully secure lot and compound
  • Controlled Goods certification
  • Data acquisition
  • Fabrication of fixtures for testing purposes
  • Expertise in wind tunnel testing – experience with over 2,500 test projects
  • Networked to industry expertise and trends
Sectors of application
  • Aerospace and satellites
  • Automotive
  • Clean technology
  • Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
  • Consumer durables
  • Defence and security industries
  • Energy
  • Environmental technologies and related services
  • Manufacturing and processing
  • Transportation
  • Utilities

Specialized lab

Equipment

Function

Climatic Wind Tunnel

  • 2.5 MW fan creating winds up to 250kmh
  • Turntable for cross-wind tests
  • Burke Porter Dyno

Aerodynamic and thermal testing cars, electric and autonomous vehicles, buses, UAVs, hurricane capability evaluation, rain penetration, roof snow load, athletic performance

Climatic Wind Tunnel

  • Burke Porter Dyno
  • DC fast charge
  • KHS Steuernagel solar array

Aerodynamic and thermal testing cars, electric and autonomous vehicles, buses, UAVs, hurricane capability evaluation, rain penetration, roof snow load, athletic performance

Climatic Wind Tunnel

  • Bicycle balance
  • Ski balance

Athletic performance, climate physiology

Large Climate Chamber

  • Mustang Dyno
  • Solar Array
  • Snow making rig
  • Rain rig
  • HVAC to create -40C to +60C, 5%-95% humidity

Climatic testing of vehicles, thermal management testing, civil engineering / construction climate testing

Small Climate Chamber

  • HVAC to create -40C to +60C, 5%-95% humidity
  • Freezing rain/ice rig

Climatic testing of vehicles, side-by-side test/control capability, civil engineering / construction climate testing

Climatic 4 Post Shaker

  • MTS 4 Post, automatic positioning system
  • HVAC to create -40C to +60C, 5%-95% humidity
  • Dual modes: Road-load sim, high-flow, high-G
  • Suspension (durability and life cycle) can be tested under surface simulations such as gravel roads or pot holes

Hemi-anechoic Chamber / Multi-Axis Shaker Table

MTS Multi-Axial Simulation Table (MAST) Table 353.20, 6 degree of freedom inverted hexapod hydraulic shaker table

Air-turbulence and uneven-surface landing sims, automotive life cycle/squeak and rattle, architectural design (earthquake sims)

Hemi-anechoic Chamber / Multi-Axis Shaker Table

Hemi-anechoic chamber, 150Hz cut-off frequency

Air-turbulence and uneven-surface landing sims, automotive life cycle/squeak and rattle, architectural design (earthquake sims)

Prototype Machining Centre

  • Haas CNC Machine
  • Haas Lathe

Machining equipment available to clients for revisions and/or repairs while on site

ACE Innovation Garage

Hoteling and office space for industry partners

Short-term or long-term working space at ACE for efficient research collaboration with academics and/or students

ACE Current

DC Fast Charge research and development site

Test battery performance in full range of climatic conditions, EV Charger Test Bench that can be inserted into the CWT

ACE Wireless Environment

Keysight Technologies wireless environment for electric and autonomous vehicles

  • Performance of AV sensors and antennas in a full-scale automotive climatic environment, performance of radar systems under severe weather environments (e.g. snowstorm).
  • Transmission and emissions of information; including indoor GPS, DSRC, antennae power, Radar and LiDAR system signal degradation measurements. 
  • Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN)
  • Subsonic Aerodynamic Testing Association (SATA)
  • SAE International
  • Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA)
  • Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)
  • IBM
  • General Motors of Canada