Development of the In Situ Load System for Internal Wind-Tunnel Balances

Results from the Facility Analysis Verification and Operational Reliability project revealed a critical gap in capability in ground-based aeronautics-research applications. Without a standardized process for check loading the wind-tunnel balance or the model system, the quality of the aerodynamic force data collected varied significantly between facilities. The In Situ Load System was developed to provide a standard for facilities in the check-loading process. The system includes both the hardware and a statistically rigorous process that facilitates the ability for the user to make defendable decisions on the performance of the system. The compactness and simplicity of the system reduce customer costs unrelated to achieving the research objectives, while simultaneously improving the knowledge about the accuracy of the test data collected. While the focus is on the check-load process, the hardware and methods are also applicable to the in situ calibration of a balance or wind-tunnel model system.