The authors investigate the feasibility of a new type of multiple-component force balance for measurements on models in hypervelocity flows of millisecond duration. The balance extends the concept of the single-component stress-wave force balance to measurement of axial force, normal force, and pitching moment. Numerical modeling of the performance of the balance shows that coupled deconvolution techniques can be used to decouple the signals from axial strain measurements in the balance to determine the applied loads. Experiments performed in the T4 free-piston shock tunnel on a sharp cone at incidence indicate that the prototype balance performs satisfactorily, forces being measured to within 11/100 of their theoretical values, and the location of the line of force being measured to within 2.1/100 of the theoretical location as a fraction of model chord.
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