A COMPACT DYNOMOMETER FOR TURBOSHAFT ENGINES

THE FEASIBILITY OF A NON-INTRUSIVE DYNOMOMETER (NID) FOR PERFORMANCE TESTING OF TURBOSHAFT ENGINES IS ASSESSED. THE NEW TECHNIQUE INVESTIGATED IS POTENTIALLY THE MOST ECONOMICAL, COMPACT AND EFFICIENT OF ALL METHODS FOR MEASURING TORQUE. BEING COMPACT AND LIGHT WEIGHT, IT IS IDEAL FOR ON-WING OR ON-THE-AIRCRAFT APPLICATION. THE TORQUE OF ANY ROTATING ENGINE CAN BE MEASURED DIRECTLY FROM PRIMARY ENGINE CHARACTERISTICS AS OPPOSED TO INTERPRETATION OF AN INTERMEDIATE EFFECT SUCH AS STRAIN. APPLICATION OF THIS TECHNIQUE TO THE T-56-427 ENGINE IS ASSESSED, AND A PROTOTYPE DESIGN IS DEVELOPED.