Modern Wind Tunnel Balance

Extract

Because of the limited nature of its application the wind tunnel balance has never been the subject of steady development along well defined lines such as are discernible in the development of most other mechanisms of comparable size and complexity.

The diversity of types and forms of balance which have been constructed in the past, reflect the wide range of tunnel sizes, financial resources, and personal preferences which are characteristic of some laboratory equipment.

The design and construction of a balance suitable for use in a medium–to–large industrial wind tunnel is a relatively costly undertaking, and the problem of providing such equipment is made more difficult by the paucity of published information, of a sufficiently detailed nature to be of assistance in making a decision on either a suitable specification for this class of machine, or the practical means by which a specification can best be met.

As part of the modernisation of the Blackburn and General Aircraft Aerodynamics Laboratory at Brough, a new six–component balance was installed, some few years ago, in a 7 ft. x 5 ft. wind tunnel having a maximum speed of 300 ft./sec. A detailed description of this balance is given.