Technique for developing thin slab strain gauge balance based on rectangular beam

The thin slab strain gauge balance is often used in hinge moment force test and parts force test for aircraft in wind tunnel. Limited by the structure of the aircraft model, the stiffness of the conventional thin slab strain gauge balance at the connections is insufficient as compared with that of the balance elements, leading to low accuracy. In this study, each element of the thin slab balance is divided into multiple rectangular beams which together compose a new element. Using the new thin slab strain gauge balance can improve the accuracy of measurement. By traditional mechanical analysis, FEA, and tests the feasibility of the technique is shown, and it has already been used in several wind tunnel tests in China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center.