Development of a Two-Component Strain-Gauge-Balance Load-Measurement System for the DSTO Water Tunnel

摘要

This report provides details of a two-component strain-gauge balance and ancillary equipment that has been developed to measure flow-induced loads on models in the DSTO water tunnel. The loads are very small and the balance was designed to measure normal forces and pitching moments within the ranges +- 2.5 N and +-0.02 N.m respectively. Due to the small loads, it was necessary to use semi-conductor strain gauges on the balance. Balance was used to measure forces and moments on a delta wing in the water tunnel for a range of fixed angels of attack. The measured loads showed good agreement with wind- and water-tunnel data reported in the literature, showing that the new load-measurement system gives good results.