Model sting support with hard metal core for measurement in the blowdown pressurized wind tunnel

Abstract The wind tunnel model, balance and sting are exposed to the large transient load in the blowdown wind tunnels. As part of the research, in order to improve wind tunnel testing, a new high stiffness sting for testing in the T-38 wind tunnel is developed. The existing steel sting, with modular construction, has been used for initial analysis. Its central cylindrical part is changed with core made of material of the high modulus of the elasticity. In this way geometrically the same sting is obtained, but stiffness of the sting is increased. Comparison between elastic characteristics of the combined sting and steel sting is made on the basis of the results obtained by load simulation and experimental verification. Load simulation results are obtained using NX Nastran software. Results of the experimental verification of the new sting are obtained in the T-38 wind tunnel test.