A study of wind tunnel testing operations information management with a micro-computer

The object of this study is to evaluate the difference between two methods of accomplishing certain project management tasks for wind tunnel tests. The two methods are: traditional methods and a new proposed method using the Test Matrix Scheduling Program (TMSP) recently developed at the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) in the Propulsion Wind Tunnel (PWT) facility for use on micro computers. The six tasks under this study are: 1) defining con figuration information, 2) determining test conditions, 3) estimating power required, 4) creating a run schedule, 5) creating a run log and 6) making run schedule revisions. A case study is presented using both methods on these six tasks for a typical test project. In this particular example, the time required to perform the tasks was reduced by 83 percent and the information provided was increased by 37 per cent by using the proposed Test Matrix Scheduling Program. The advantage and the utility of this proposed method are demonstrated.