TRANSLATIONAL TUNED MASS DAMPER WITH CONTINUOUSLY ADJUSTABLE DAMPING CHARACTERISTICS FOR APPLICATION TO HIGH SPEED WIND TUNNEL TESTING

摘要

A system, including methods and apparatus, of tuning a mass-damping apparatus to reduce dynamics forces on a wind tunnel model during wind tunnel testing. The mass-damping apparatus is coupled to a wind tunnel model and may comprise first and second pressure chambers containing a gas, a mass configured to move back and forth between the pressure chambers in a substantially airtight manner and thereby to alter gas pressure within each pressure chamber, at least one spring configured to exert a position-dependent force upon the mass, and a passageway configured to allow the gas to pass between the chambers.