Abstract
An external three component strain gauge balance, designed, analyzed and manufactured in the Military Technical Academy is presented. The balance is a multi-piece type and employs the use of six custom-made load cells (sensors) to transfer the aerodynamic forces and moments from the wing to the computer software environment for data processing and analysis. The relations between the loads acting on the wing model and the measured forces are also underlined. The placement of the strain gauge on the composite laminate is an important issue for increased sensor precision; therefore, it is given a thorough analysis. The positioning of the force vector and its influence on the strain distribution over the lift sensor is also numerically and experimentally analyzed.
Keywords: aerodynamic balance; composite material; fiberglass; strain gauge; managing and analyzing