Technical Paper
Development of a test bench with temperature and relative humidity control, for interior lining materials of truck cabins
1997-12-31
973066
Due to the growing need to reduce the development time of new products, a tendency to rationalize field tests through test benches, in shorter times and with lower costs, has been noted in recent years. During the 90's, such a tendency has generated, in the automotive industry, a great effort to substitute classic field tests, which until recently represented 70% of the development work, for bench tests, with benches well “calibrated” in relation to the traditional methodology. The present work intends to show the development of a test bench to simulate solar radiation and relative humidity effects upon parts and interior lining materials of truck cabins. The traditional test was carried out exposing the cabin to weather conditions in predetermined locations, or in a hot-house, monitoring the cabin interior for temperature and relative humidity variations.