Validation of Stream Thrust Probes for Turbine Engine Thrust Measurement

A technique for determining the thrust of a J85 afterburning turbojet engine during static testing is discussed. The technique relies upon inferring the local stream thrust from pitot pressure measurements. The local stream thrust can be spatially integrated to determine the total thrust. The influences of probe size and geometry on the thermochemistry of the probe flow field are addressed. The probe has a unique aerodynamic shape that automatically compensates for flow direction. The probe technique is validated against standard load cell data acquired during static testing at Middle Tennessee State University.