Reverberant acoustic chamber research facility

Unique in Canada, the NRC's reverberant acoustic chamber is a specialized, high‑intensity noise testing facility that is used for testing full‑size aerospace components at high levels of sound pressure field.

Our acoustic facilities are registered to the  ISO 9001 quality management system and produce quality test results that continually exceed our clients' expectations. Our experienced, professional and dedicated research staff is on hand to support clients' testing requirements from start to finish, from design of experiments to the creation of reports. Testing is tailored to our clients' projects, and we customize testing approaches and assist our clients in interpreting results.

Why work with us

The NRC's Aerospace Research Centre operates a large and unique national facility in which full‑scale aerospace structures and equipment may be tested in high acoustic intensity, thereby simulating the effects of rocket and jet engines or high‑speed aerodynamic flows. It has been used to support the R&D needs of the Canadian space industry and other government departments, including MDA Corp, Stelia NA, the Canadian Space Agency, the Department of National Defence (DND) etc.

The NRC's tests let you reduce your component R&D risk, overcome product development challenges, improve component designs, and qualify hardware for launch. Our acoustic chamber facility is registered to the ISO 9001 quality management system and produces quality test results that continually exceed our clients' expectations.

Our services include:

• research, development and qualification testing of full‑scale spacecraft flight hardware, satellite antennae and reflectors, and other large aerospace structures under high‑intensity acoustic environment
• research and business opportunities that can translate into collaborative agreements or consortia work
• generating suitable test profiles, developing test fixtures, providing analytical modelling and conducting acoustic tests for specific test conditions based on the application

Our capabilities

The NRC's noise testing facility operates 2 reverberation chambers. The small acoustic chamber measures 4.6 m × 4.6 m × 3.1 m and can supply a sound pressure level greater than 120 dB. The larger facility, with dimensions of 6.9 m × 9.75 m × 7.98 m, is able to generate overall sound pressure levels up to 158 dB through the use of Wyle WAS3000 airstream modulators and gas jets supplied by dry compressed air.

The closed‑loop controller analyzes and controls the noise level in the chamber automatically to ensure accurate spectrum shaping between 25 Hz and 20,000 Hz with tight tolerances. The noise spectra in the chambers has been shaped to match specifications of the space shuttle, rocket launches, aircraft structural excitation, engine nacelle noise, unsteady turbulent airflows and other specifications.

The high bay preparation area is a clean room facility with humidity and temperature control. To handle large test articles, there is a 7,000 kg DEMAG overhead crane in the clean room, a 7,500 kg MUNCK overhead crane in the intermediate room and a 6300 kg ASEA overhead crane inside the reverberant chamber room, as well as a 30,000 lbs capacity large fork lift truck for cargo loading.

Our team has expertise in the following areas:

• Acoustic qualification of spacecraft flight hardware and large satellite structures
• Simulation and testing of structures under acoustic loads
• Simulation and testing of structures under vibratory loads