DEVELOPMENT FOR HIGH PRECISION SIX COMPONENT STRAIN GAUGE BALANCE

The measurement accuracy of a wind tunnel balance is the key factor to improve the measurement accuracy for a test model in the wind tunnel. In order to improve the measurement accuracy of the wind tunnel balance, a great deal of investigation is carried out in China. This paper summarizes a program to improve the measurement accuracy of wind tunnel balances. In the program, the investigation is carried out in three aspects (1) designing a drag component of the balance in low interactions (2) choosing high quality foil strain gauges with temperature self-compensation (3) choosing the excellent gauges and mounting them meticulously. As an example, these research achievements are applied in a φ18 six component balance. The measurement accuracy of a GB-04 standard model in a transonic wind tunnel with the φ18 six component balance comes up to the advanced world standard.