TITLE: PLATE 1 NAME: PALISOC, MARK RHONEL M.

DATE: SEPT. 5,2022 PAGE 8 OF 8

INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Malek Joshua D. Sabio BSAeE 3 - B GRADE:

References

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-are-wind-
tunnels-k4.html

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/tuncret.html#:~:text=Many%20of%20the
%20large%20research,back%20through%20the%20test%20section.

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/tunoret.html

https://www.aerolab.com/aerolab-products/open-circuit-wind-tunnels/

https://www.forcegauge.net/en/catalog/products/top/forcegauge

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/tunspringage.html

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/tunstraingage.html

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/tunbal.html#:~:text=Force
%20Balance&text=Aerodynamicists%20use%20wind%20tunnels%20to,the%20forces
%20on%20the%20model.

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/tunbalint.html

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/tunbalext.html
TITLE: PLATE 1 NAME: PALISOC, MARK RHONEL M.
DATE: SEPT. 5,2022 PAGE 7 OF 8
INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Malek Joshua D. Sabio BSAeE 3 - B GRADE:

The location of the measuring device in a wind tunnel can be either placed
externally or internally. It can be placed outside the model and the test section or it can
also be placed inside the model. The location of the measuring device affects the choice of
the mounting system to be used and also the data reduction necessary to determine the
aerodynamic forces.

As you can observe, the mounting mechanism of both systems differ. But both
systems’ gauge measures a force by the stretching of an electrical element in their
respective gauges. The stretching changes the resistance of the element which also
changes the measured current via the said element according to Ohm’s Law. However, in
the Internal Force Balance system, there are wires that carry electricity to the gauges
through the sting and carry the resulting signal back via the sting to the recording devices
in the control room.
TITLE: PLATE 1 NAME: PALISOC, MARK RHONEL M.
DATE: SEPT. 5,2022 PAGE 6 OF 8
INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Malek Joshua D. Sabio BSAeE 3 - B GRADE:

Force Balance
Force balances are used to directly measure aerodynamic forces and moments
during tests which are implemented on an aircraft model inside a wind tunnel. A force
balance can have different configurations depending on how many forces it can determine
or measure. One-component Force Balance is a configuration of a force balance that can
only measure one force. Other sophisticated configurations are the Three-component Force
Balance that can measure 3 forces which are lift, drag, and pitching moment and the Six-
component Force Balance that can measure 3 forces and 3 moments which are lift, drag,
and side and pitch, roll, and yaw respectively. The figure below is an example of a force
balance measuring the lift of a certain wing model.
TITLE: PLATE 1 NAME: PALISOC, MARK RHONEL M.
DATE: SEPT. 5,2022 PAGE 5 OF 8
INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Malek Joshua D. Sabio BSAeE 3 - B GRADE:

Strain Gauge
Strain gauges are small electrical devices used to measure changes in force,
pressure, weight and tension by giving a change in electrical resistance. The output
resistance differs depending on the applied force. These gauges consist of a long and thin
electrical wire which is looped back and forth so it is securely attached to a piece of
material called substrate.

When the applied force F makes contact, the wire is stretched. The length L is
increased while the cross-sectional area A is decreased resulting into an electrical resistance
R with a given rho which is the resistivity of the material of the wire.
TITLE: PLATE 1 NAME: PALISOC, MARK RHONEL M.
DATE: SEPT. 5,2022 PAGE 4 OF 8
INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Malek Joshua D. Sabio BSAeE 3 - B GRADE:

Mechanical Force Gauge Digital Force Gauge Other Force Gauges (Used for special force testing)

Spring Gauge
A spring gauge is equipped with a spring and a scale. The spring is stretched when
force is applied to which the scale is used to determine the magnitude of the force. This
mechanism is based on the physical observation where the length L is linearly related to the
force applied F via the spring constant K which depends on the material and thickness of
the spring.
TITLE: PLATE 1 NAME: PALISOC, MARK RHONEL M.
DATE: SEPT. 5,2022 PAGE 3 OF 8
INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Malek Joshua D. Sabio BSAeE 3 - B GRADE:

Force Gauge
Force Gauge, also known as “push pull gauge” or “push pull scale”, is a device
mainly used for measuring force. It is used for measuring the compression (push force) and
the tension (pull force). At the same time, it also recognized other forces such as adhesion,
peel force, COF, etc. It has mainly two types: Digital Force Gauge which contains a load cell
that is built-in and a Mechanical Force Gauge that uses a spring mechanism.

Researchers use wind tunnels to acquire data on how an aircraft model reacts while
in a state of flight by implementing various types of tests. A number of these tests are
performed to measure the aerodynamic forces and moments using an instrument called
force balance. It can be a mechanical or electrical system where the result changes
depending on the force applied.

For example, in a student-built wind tunnel, a mechanical force gauge may be

sufficient to determine the forces acted on the model placed inside the wind tunnel. On the
other hand, modern wind tunnels typically use electrical strain gauges to determine the
forces acted on the model.
TITLE: PLATE 1 NAME: PALISOC, MARK RHONEL M.
DATE: SEPT. 5,2022 PAGE 2 OF 8
INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Malek Joshua D. Sabio BSAeE 3 - B GRADE:

Open Circuit Wind Tunnel

This is also known as Eiffel tunnel as it was designed by a French engineer.
Simultaneously, it is also known as NPL tunnel after the National Physical Laboratory in
England where the tunnel was first used. Open circuit wind tunnels do not directly re-
circulate air. From the laboratory environment air is drawn which is then passed through
the test section and is returned back to the lab via the tunnel exhaust. The original Wright
Brothers’ wind tunnel was an open circuit one.

Advantages Disadvantages

1. Low Construction Cost Poor Flow Quality

2. Superior design for propulsion and High Operating Cost
smoke visualization
3. Noisy Operation
TITLE: PLATE 1 NAME: PALISOC, MARK RHONEL M.
DATE: SEPT. 5,2022 PAGE 1 OF 8
INSTRUCTOR: Engr. Malek Joshua D. Sabio BSAeE 3 - B GRADE:

Wind Tunnel
Wind tunnels are used to imitate the reactions of an object in the state of flight.
Wind tunnels are made of large tubes containing moving air inside. Powerful fans are used
to move air via the tube while the aircraft itself is fastened inside. Wind tunnels are mainly
used for simulation. Researches use the data they acquire via these simulations in order to
broaden their knowledge on how an aircraft will handle itself during flight. There are mainly
two types of wind tunnels: A closed circuit wind tunnel and an open circuit wind tunnel.

Airplane builders use NASA wind tunnels to test new airplane designs. A wind tunnel test shows how a tennis ball moves through the air.

Closed Circuit Wind Tunnel

A Closed Circuit Wind Tunnel was designed by a German engineer thus it is also
known as Prandti tunnel. At the same time, it is also known as Gottingen tunnel, after the
first German laboratory where the tunnel was used. The main difference of a closed circuit
wind tunnel to an open one is that air is continuously circulated through the duct work
design of a closed circuit wind tunnel. On the other hand, in an open circuit wind tunnel, air
that passes through the test section, where the aircraft is located, is gathered from the
room in which the tunnel is located. Most of the wind tunnels used in NASA are closed
circuit wind tunnels.

Advantages Disadvantages

1. Superior flow quality in the test section Higher Construction Cost

2. Low operating costs Inferior design for propulsion and smoke
visualization
3. Quiet operation relative to an open one Hotter running conditions relative to open