Abstract
A 6-DOF isotropic device for measurement of force and torque components of drag that is suitable for use in wind tunnels is described in this paper. With our system, only the body under investigation and its fastening elements are placed inside the wind tunnel; six force sensors (load cells) are fastened outside the wind tunnel in a symmetric design by means of a metal cubic frame suspended on a massive base. Mathematical expressions describing the measurement and computation process of the values of the six force and torque vectors of the above-mentioned sensors are proposed. The isotropy features of the proposed device were shown to be superior to those of an existing tunnel balance device. To test the proposed device, the influence of the air flow on a model pattern in the shape of a flat disc or a cube fastened along its diagonal, the patterns were positioned at different angles relative to the air flow in the tunnel.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 337-352 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | International Journal of Mechanics and Materials in Design |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Dec 2009 |
Keywords
- 6-DOF force/torque sensor
- External balances
- Isotropic sensor system
- Wind tunnel
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering