The MK40B balance is NASA's newest balance of Task design. Its load range was optimized for use in the NASA Ames 11-ft Transonic Wind Tunnel. The balance was calibrated in 2019 in Calspan's Automatic Balance Calibration System. The data analysis was performed at the Ames Balance Calibration Laboratory. First, bi-directional characteristics of the six gage outputs of the balance were assessed by applying a semi-empirical test to the calibration data. These tests indicated that four of the six gages have bi-directional characteristics. Therefore, the use of absolute value terms in the regression models of the calibration data is justified. Then, the machine calibration data was analyzed using both the Non-Iterative and the Iterative Method. Analysis results for the two methods were compared using the percent contributions, the calibration load residuals, the primary sensitivities, and the principle linear terms. These results confirmed that the two methods describe bi-directional characteristics of the balance gages correctly. In addition, it was concluded that the load prediction accuracies of the two methods are the same for all practical purposes.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Analysis and Evaluation of NASA's MK40B Six-Component Task Balance


    Contributors:
    N. Ulbrich (author)

    Conference:

    AIAA Aviation Forum and Exposition ; 2023 ; San Diego, CA, US


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English