Test SLATE: Case Studies: NFAC
|
Learn more about Test SLATE, contact Jacobs Technology
Learn More > Need answers right away? Call 931.393.6427 |
NASA Ames National Full Scale Aerodynamic Complex (NFAC)
|
The NFAC is a wind tunnel with both an 80 foot by 120 foot test section and a 40 foot by 80 foot test section. Brought back on-line in late 2007, one of real draws of this facility --other than its simply massive test section -- is its ability to test full-scale rotary aircraft. The Department of Defense (DoD) revived funding for the de-commissioned facility and added capability unmatched throughout the world. Of particular interest are the data acquisition systems. Test SLATE sits at the heart of the measurement capabilities of this complex — Jacobs provided 256 analog measurement channels that take measurements at 68,000 samples per second per channel and 256 channels that run at 1,000 samples per channel second. 
Couple this with 224 pressure channels and 48 temperature channels that sample at 200 samples per second per channel and you can fill a computer disk drive in a hurry. Unique to our system is its capability to convert all the analog channels from a time-based measurement to a rotary-position-based measurement in real-time (i.e., converting 560 measurements every 15 micro-seconds). Considering all the calculated variables, the system stores nearly 20 million data point per second, which is a little over one Terabyte of data generated per hour of testing.