Design of a Three-axis Wind Tunnel Force Balance

undergraduate thesis

• Title (croatian): Projektiranje trokomponentne aerodinamičke vage
• Author: Itziar Bueno Tintoré
• Mentor: Karolina Krajček Nikolić (mentor)
• Committee member: Tomislav Radišić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Davor Franjković (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Karolina Krajček Nikolić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences; (Division of Aeronautics); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2018-07, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: TECHNICAL SCIENCES; Traffic and Transport Technology; Air Traffic

Abstract

In this thesis, the design of a force balance for a small low-speed wind tunnel capable of measuring lift, drag and pitching moment of small models is presented. The aim is to provide an accessible tool to do measurements in the faculty's wind tunnel, now used mostly for demonstration purposes. The design is intended to be inexpensive and understandable for students and it includes the base, the structure of the balance, and the means to transmit the forces to the sensors, along with the data acquisition methodology to process the results. The latter is made possible by using three load cells: two to measure lift and pitching moment, and another one to measure drag. Data processing is performed by an Arduino, which also enables a quick and easy calibration and tare process. The electronics and the accompanying code have been tested, while the structure design is left ready to be built. This work also includes a manual of use of the force balance.

• Keywords: wind tunnel; force balance; Arduino; HX711; Load cell; three-axis; lift; drag; pitching moment
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:119:249595
• Study programme: Title: Aeronautics; Study programme type: university; Study level: undergraduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) inženjer/inženjerka aeronautike (sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) inženjer/inženjerka aeronautike)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2018-09-13 10:54:30