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Post by wilmywood8455 on Jun 12, 2018 3:49:04 GMT -8
Instrumentation and measurements
Contrary to popular belief aerodynamicists spend very little time wafting smoke wands around in the wind tunnel. Like the full-size cars, they represent, wind tunnels models require and contain an array of sensors and instrumentation, albeit for the sole purpose of measuring aerodynamic data. Measuring forces
Aerodynamic forces and moments are measured using force balances, which are constructed of an arrangement of flexures designed for compliance in the x, y and z directions. Compression and extension of these flexures is measured by strain gauges which measure the change in electrical resistance over a long piece of thin wire. Force balances can sit internal (about the size of a tissue box) or external (about one or two cubic meters) to the model, with each team/facility having a preferred method as discussed above.
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