Wind tunnel instrumentation
Wind tunnel instrumentation
(OP)
I am attempting to design a "pocket size" wind tunnel to test small electric motor driven ducted fans. I need to measure thrust and torque as well as other things. Thrust will be less
than one pound, torque will be less than 0.6 inch pounds. Airspeed will be up to 73 feet per second.
Would strain gages on a cantilever strut do the job? I have in mind about 0.010 inch thick, with width and length tailored to suit. But the gage also has a thickness- will this affect the readings/
than one pound, torque will be less than 0.6 inch pounds. Airspeed will be up to 73 feet per second.
Would strain gages on a cantilever strut do the job? I have in mind about 0.010 inch thick, with width and length tailored to suit. But the gage also has a thickness- will this affect the readings/





RE: Wind tunnel instrumentation
RE: Wind tunnel instrumentation
Omega do sell half bridge (Two guages interlaid on each other at 90° to eachother). U can get two of these and put em 180° (Opposite sides) and you will end up with a full bridge. This way all u need to develop are slope and intercept for you stuff and forget the correction factors.
RE: Wind tunnel instrumentation
See Rae & Pope's book on wind tunnel instrumentation. I learnt how to do it from professor Rae. But he was often just blowing smoke too(*).
(*)Truly, he did a lot of smoke trace testing, as did his grad/undergrad students at the Kirsten Low Speed Wind Tunnel at U of Washington. Blew a lot of smoke, that man.
RE: Wind tunnel instrumentation