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About
Dyno Testing
A
dynamometer tests the power of an automotive engine or power train. It
measures the wheel speed and torque. By applying the laws of physics to
that data, power output can be calculated. A computer is attached to the
dyno to perform the calculation and provide the results on the computer
monitor and can be printed and saved to a data file.
The
chassis dynamometer accommodates an entire vehicle and allows operation of
its power train while the vehicle remains stationary. The car is securely
attached to the dyno with tie-down devices the drive wheels sit on metal
inertia drums. The dynamometer design features 48" diameter,
knurled, precision balanced drums. The 48" drums provide stable
contact for the tires eliminating unnecessary slippage and tire
deformation resulting in precise repeatable results every time. The drums
are connected to the dyno measuring system to test drive wheel output.
A
combination of two laws of physics, force equals mass times acceleration
and work equals force times distance, gives us this equation: W=m X a X d.
"W" is the work (in pound-feet) the rear wheels are doing,
"m" is mass equivalent (the drums), "a" is
acceleration (increasing drive wheel speed) and "d" is distance
(drum circumference). Once we have the work, we can find horsepower.
Torque can be figured by
multiplying the horsepower by a constant, 5252, then dividing that product
by the speed at which the thrust force was measured. |