ONERA
More Value Per Test
Continuously mindful of the global competition its testing services face, ONERA is always looking for ways to offer more value per test to its customers, and has a major initiative on expanding customer expectations, as Stephen Wolf of ONERA describes
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nerA (the french Aerospace lab) has operated a suite of world-class wind tunnels for over 55 years, within its GMT division. GMT is responsible for providing customers with comprehensive testing services (both model and test). Our first priority is to satisfy the primary objectives of a client, in the most cost-effective way. furthermore, we are mindful of the global competition we face, so we are forever looking for ways to offer more value per test to our customers. One approach is the focus of our presentation at the Global Wind Tunnel symposium, which will be about expanding customer expectations. Our service is much more than just the wind tunnel capabilities.
a powerful tool for reducing risk in the design phase, and promoting innovation. We are committed to helping our customers develop technology, at minimum cost. We understand customers want to prove the worth of a new technology (commercial advantage), in the preliminary design phase. Investment in testing services encourages this to happen sooner. This can be shown graphically using a “clarity line” (see accompanying illustration). Here, we show how investment in testing services improves the “clarity” a customer possesses, at any given time, to make a commitment for the project’s full development. Wind tunnels testing has changed significantly over the last 50 years. We are no longer just providing forces, moments, and pressures. Test campaign optimization is the “norm” today, meaning our customers A new flying vehicle today requires complex optimization of more focus their testing on critical areas of the flight envelope, which disciplines and requirements than before. We see the wind tunnel as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) cannot model adequately. GMT’s 108
WIND TUNNEL INTERNATIONAL | 2010