Forces and Moments from

Balance Measurement
 The purpose of load measurements on the model is to make available the
forces and moments so that they may be corrected for tunnel boundary and
scale effects and utilized in predicting the performance of the full scale vehicle
or other devices.
 The loads may be obtained by at least of the following four methods:
 Measuring the actual forces and moments on the complete model or parts of
the model with one or more balances.
 Measuring the stress distribution of the model.
 Measuring the effect of that model has on airstream
 Measuring the motion of the model under the action of aerodynamic forces
 Forces, Moments and Reference Frames
The two most used reference frames:
 Wind Axes -the wind axis have Xw pointing into the wind Zw pointing down
and Yw pointing to the right looking into the wind. Note that Drag negative the
Xw direction, Lift is opposite the Zw direction and the Side Forces on the
positive Yw direction.
 Body axes – are fixed on the model and move with it. The exact alignment
with any particular model must be specified as part of test planning. The
force components on the body axes are sometimes referred to us axial
force, side force and normal force.

 Moments and Reference Frame Origins

The moment components on the x, y and z axis referred to as Rolling, Pitching
and Yawing moment respectively. Origins of the reference frames must be
carefully specified in every case since the moments are directly and critically
dependent on this choice.
BALANCES
 Six- Component Balance
 The model is held by six wires. Six forces are read by scales A, B, C, D, E and F. Wires
attached to A and B are parallel to the incoming air velocity vector and define a plane that
can be taken as the reference plane for the balance and designate this as x-y plane. The
wires attached to C and D wires are perpendicular to x-y plane, which will be designate as
the y-z plane. Wires A and C is attached in common point on the right wing. Wires B, D and
F attached in common point of the left wing. Finally the wire attached to E is parallel to C
and D.
Terminology for Force Measuring Devices
 Standards for Force Measurement, force is a derived unit. In the SI unit of
force is Newton, which is defined as the force required to accelerate a
mass of one kilogram at one meter per second per second. The use of
dead weight testing machines invokes the equivalence of gravitational and
inertial acceleration effects.
 Transducer, A transducer is an electronic device that converts energy from
one form to another. Common example on wind tunnel is a pressure
sensors. An ideal transducer has included that the output be proportional
to the quantity being measured.
 Wind Tunnel Balances
 The wind tunnels main function is to provide flow simulation on a
model introduced in a fluid flow. Global forces and momentums
on the model are mainly obtained by using different wind tunnel
balances; although in special tests, local balances or pressure
distribution measurement can be used as well. Range, accuracy
and response time of the measurements are the main
parameters that define such systems. The wind tunnel balances
are extensively used and are an accurate method for
measurements acquisition, with a wide range of measures and a
fast response to loads changes. This system requires an important
initial calibration effort but once the measurements are probed
to be correct, the system can be used to test several low cost
models with a reduced effort.
External Balances
Wire Balances
One of the earliest type of balances.
Similar in principle to the six
component balance since there
deflection will change the model
attitude.
 Pyramidal Balance
 Pyramidal Force/Moment balances employ a series of beams, flexures and
turnbuckles to separate Forces and Moments. As such, Forces and Moments
are read directly as Lift, Drag, Side Force, Pitching Moment, Yawing Moment
and Rolling Moment.
Platform Balance

 Are widely used, and naturally orthogonal they may be constructed and
aligned with minimum difficulty. But there are disadvantages: (1)moments
appear as small differences in large forces (2) Balance resolving center is
not at the center of wind tunnel (3) the drag and side load put pitching
and rolling moments on the load ring.
Yoke Balance
 Offers an advantage to platform balance in that the moment resolving
center is near the center of tunnel. However the inherent design of yoke
leads to bigger deflection than platform balance particularly in pitch and
side force.
 DEFLECTION-One of the most troublesome on wind tunnel balances is rigidity. Deflection
in the balance may move the model from the resolving center and nullify the balance
alignment so that the part of the lift appears a drag force or side force.
 BALANCE LINKAGES or PIVOTS- principal components of external balance consist of a
large number of levers that are designed to have minimum deflection under maximum
load.
 HYDRAULIC CAPSULES- is a device that measures forces through the pressure they exert
on the piston of known area.
 ELECTRICAL MEASURING DEVICE- there are several methods of measuring forces and
pressure electrically most of them depending on amplifying effect that tiny deflection
have on the capacitance or resistance of the unit.