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MTS Virtual Engine System is Heart of Ford's New NVH Test Facility

30 September 1999

MTS Virtual Engine System is Heart of Ford's New NVH Test Facility

    EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Sept. 29 -- Opening ceremonies will be
held this evening at Ford's new All Wheel Drive Spin-Torsional Dynamometer
facility at the company's Advanced Engineering Center in Dearborn, Mich. A key
component of the facility is a new MTS Virtual Engine test system developed by
MTS Systems Corp. , Eden Prairie, Minn.
    "The facility was designed by Ford for analyzing and improving the wide
range of noise and vibration phenomena that can occur in drivetrains," said
MTS Vice President Steve Cohoon.  "The MTS Virtual Engine system enables
development engineers to refine structure and component design in the
powertrain to minimize sensitivity to torsionally induced NVH phenomena. And
most importantly, Ford engineers can achieve those objectives without having
to test with a live engine. Because the MTS Virtual Engine system simulates
the output of actual engines, the drivetrain design can be tested while the
engine is still in development," he said.
    The MTS Virtual Engine system simulates real-time engine torque
fluctuation at the flywheel induced by complicated firing events and engine
accessories.  It will simulate all driving conditions and a wide variety of
engine configurations.
    All-wheel drive, front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and in-line and
transverse engine layouts can be tested by the system. The basic hardware
consists of the virtual engine and four absorbing dynamometers mounted at the
four axle shafts.
    The Virtual Engine system consists of a high-speed, AC dynamometer
directly coupled to a high frequency hydraulic actuator system. The actuator
has rotational speed and torque sensors attached to its output shafts.
    Great test flexibility is achieved by the design of the system. The
components are mounted to a common base. The virtual engine can simulate
different powerplant configurations. Or, it can even be moved aside when a
real engine is to be employed.  Four low speed, absorbing AC dynamometers are
coupled to offset shaft gearboxes which allow the input shafts to be aligned
for proper driveline geometry. Flywheels are fitted to the dynos to simulate
the rolling inertia of a vehicle on the road.
    The MTS Virtual Engine system can be used with drivetrains, or a complete
vehicle modified slightly to adapt to the structure.
    Ford also presented the Q1 quality award to MTS, according to Cohoon.
"The award is given only to suppliers who have established and continue to
maintain quality systems that meet four basic requirements including ISO 9000
registration, an in-place, audited quality improvement process, adherence to
Ford's performance metrics, and endorsements from key Ford customers," he
said. "We are very proud to have our quality program recognized by this
important customer."
    Attending the grand opening ceremony from MTS will be:  Sidney W. Emery,
Jr., president and CEO, Jim Telinda, sales manager, and Glen Grenier and
Zdenek Mestenhauser,  engineers.  Attending from the DSP Technology division
of MTS will be Tom Desimone and Ray Skinner, engineers.
    MTS Systems Corporation manufactures computer-based testing and simulation
systems for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products and
structures, and measurement and control instrumentation products for the
automation of manufacturing processes. The company had revenues of $362
million and earnings of $1.01 per share in its most recent fiscal year ending
in September 1998.  These numbers reflect the consolidated results with DSP
Technology, Inc. which was acquired by a pooling of interest.
    Additional information on MTS can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.mts.com