Accelerometer-Based Force Balance for High Enthalpy Facilities

Abstract

A single component accelerometer-based force balance is developed, calibrated, and used for high enthalpy applications. Functionality of this force balance, for such applications, is demonstrated for the first time during high enthalpy tests in a newly established free piston- driven shock tunnel, HST3, using a 60° apex angle blunt cone model at 0° angle of incidence. Usefulness of this force balance is also confirmed, for much complicated high enthalpy flow situations, during the drag reduction studies with counterflow supersonic jet from the stagnation point.