VOJNOTEHNIÈKI INSTITUT

EXPERIMENTAL AERODYNAMICS DIVISION

Realized project:

EXTERNAL SIX-COMPONENT
WIND TUNNEL BALANCE
DESIGN, INSTRUMENTATION
AND APPLICATION
MAIN FEATURES
General arrangement of the external six-component wind tunnel balance
VTI has designed and produced an external six-
component wind tunnel balance. Its principle of work is
to apply measured forces and moments directly to
load cells.
Main features of the balance are the following:
· six measured force components are resolved into
three force and three moment components,
· components interactions are taken into account
during calibration,
·maximum degree of repeatability achieved by
design concept,
·convenient definition of axes,
·motorized control of pitch in the range of -20 to +30
degrees and yaw in the range of +/- 180 degrees
(controlled by a PC),
·wind speed range up to 50 m/s,
·recommended dimensions of the wind tunnel test
section: width 0.4m-0.6m, height 0.4m-0.6m,
·suitable for underfloor mounting.
OPERATION
Transfer of aerodynamic forces and moments to the external balance load cells
GENERAL ARRANGEMENT
A fixed frame, bolted to the wind tunnel structure,
supports an axial bearing on which the rotating
turntable revolves about a vertical axis. The rotating
turntable carries the six load cells. The platform of the
balance is carried on six load cells separation rods
provided with elastic pivots/flexures, in order to
minimize mechanical effects between measuring
channels. The model is supported on a platform by
main and tail struts. Incorporated in the platform is the
pitch positioning equipment.
The balance is designed as a single elastic body, in
which the size of individual load cells is determined
merely by stiffness and rigidity, with strains in the
lower range of the linear section of the tension-
compression characteristic.
LOAD TRANSFER
.
Three force components in the vertical direction and
three force components in the horizontal direction are
measured by the external balance. By using a
suitable calibration matrix, these six load components
are resolved into three force components - lift, drag
and side force, and three moment components -
pitch, yaw and roll.
Transfer of aerodynamic forces and moments to the
balance load cells is shown in the figure above. In
each of the load cases shown in the figure, loaded
elements are red painted.
The load cells are measuring springs made of high-
grade age-hardened steel with four strain gauges
sticked onto their surface. The output of each load cell
is approximately 6 mV for maximum applied load.
PERFORMANCE

Load cell, pivot/flexure and rods

LOAD RANGE AND ACCURACY

Lift force: 150 N 0.25% F.S.
Drag force: 100 N 0.25% F.S.
Side force: 75 N 0.25% F.S.
Pitching moment: 7.0 Nm 0.25% F.S.
Rolling moment: 3.5 Nm 0.25% F.S.
Yawing moment: 3.5 Nm 0.25% F.S. Calibration of the external balance

APPLICATION
This external balance is suitable for use in the fluid Front page pictures:
mechanics laboratories of universities and technical
Upper left: CAD model of the external six-
colleges. It is especially useful for graduate and component balance
postgraduate teaching with wind tunnels having test
section widths of 0.4m-0.6m and heights of Main: Axes system used in balance calibration
0.4m-0.6m.
Lower right: CAD model of a load cell used on the
balance
VTI can produce wind tunnel balances of similar
design with the load range of up to 10 kN.

All mentioned products, names and logos are

recognized as trademarks of their respective
owners.

Vojnotehnièki institut
Ratka Resanoviæa 1,
11132 Beograd, Serbia
Tel: +381 11 25 08 308
Fax: +381 11 25 08 474
Web: www.vti.mod.gov.yu
E-mail: vti@vti.vj.yu