Experimental Design Considerations for Calibration of Semispan Force Measurement Systems

Abstract

Experimental design considerations for the development of calibration load schedules are discussed for the characterization of traditional five-component semispan balances used in aerodynamic ground testing applications. Detail is given on traditional semispan balance design, use of these types of balances, and a survey of some of the calibration systems currently used to calibrate these measurement systems. Techniques are presented to develop experimental calibration designs used to calibrate these instruments, with consideration given to accounting for physical limitations existing within these calibration systems. The techniques provided rely on traditional statistical engineering approaches, leveraging off of statistics-based experimental design techniques and analysis metrics used to assess the characteristics of the designs. Methods used for optimal design techniques are presented, with a case study given that details the comparison of these statistics-based metrics for traditional and optimized calibration load schedule designs.