Reduction/Elimination of Unsteady Aerodynamic Loads on Model and Balance Support Systems in Large Scale Wind Tunnels

This proposed effort is seeking continued SBIR Phase II funding support to further develop the various design features of our Phase I balance Damping and Damage Prevention System, DDPS, feasibility demonstration technology. Continued support is needed for further development including software development for integrating the automatic control implementation in the DDPS as a “smart� interface. The smart interface technology shall be configured and programmed to transform the model and balance support with the DDPS into a next generation smart model and balance support system. This interface shall be composed of a number of precision custom designed as integral (DDPS) components, integrated with control algorithm designed to automatically generate passive, adaptive, and or active control damping and lock-up damage prevention. The proposed DDPS and interface software, once fully developed and properly implemented, can analyze the balance data to provide damping as needed, including limiting maximum (rotational) displacements experienced by a balance, when certain pre-specified design limits exceeds. DDPS shall eliminate the need for facility shut downs to remove the balance from the model support system and start-ups, which are time consuming processes. The innovation would be applicable to most tests using internal force and moment balances.