Table of contents
1 Summary
3.1 Flutter
3.2.1 Current methods of exciting airframes
3.2.1.1 Pyrotechnics
3.2.1.2 Aerodynamic excitation
3.2.1.3 Mechanical excitation
3.2.1.4 Control surface excitation
3.3.1 Spectral analysis and the power spectral density function
3.3.2 Source-sink panel method
4 Wind tunnel balance calibration
4.1 Method
4.1.1 Loadcell calibration against voltmeter readings
4.1.2 Digital acquisition system calibration against voltmeters
4.2 Generating a calibration matrix
4.3 Errors
4.4 Discussion
4.4.1 Combined loadings
4.4.2 Accuracy
5.1 Equipment used
5.2 Method
5.3 Results
5.4 Discussion
5.4.1 Mechanical vibration of the model
5.4.1.1 Inertial excitation due to cylinder vibrations
5.4.1.2 Vibration modes of the model
5.4.2 Power supply interference
5.4.3 Noise due to cyclic loading
5.4.4 Low signal
5.4.4.1 Excessive gap in the rotating cylinder
5.4.4.2 Excessive gap between the plate and cylinder
5.4.5 Wall effects and blockage
5.4.6 Errors
6.1.1 Model creation
6.1.2 Results
6.2.1 Model creation
6.2.1.1 Variations on the model
6.2.2 Results
6.2.2.1 Lift curve slope
6.2.2.2 Effect of the main plate
6.2.3 Discussion
6.2.3.1 Lift curve
6.2.3.2 Relative effect of main and rear plates
6.2.3.3 Plate gap spacing
6.3.1 Model creation
6.3.1.1 Variations
6.3.2 Results
6.3.3 Discussion
6.3.3.1 Relative effect of upper and lower exciter vanes
6.3.3.2 Effect of the model upon the results
6.3.3.3 Design parameters
6.3.3.4 Effectiveness of the split cylinder concept
8.1.1 Design recommendations