Publications Details

A three-component balance system for measuring forces and moments in fin-wake interactions

Smith, Justin; Henfling, John F.; Beresh, Steven J.; Grasser, Thomas

A three-component balance system has been developed and implemented to measure the forces and moments on a sub-scale missile fin model interacting with the wake and shed vortex from an upstream fin. Measurements were made from Mach 0.5 - 0.8 with both the upstream and downstream fins pitched between -5° and 10° angle of attack. The results show that the downstream fin's forces and moments are shifted from the baseline single fin values dependent on the angle of attack of the upstream fin. Mach Number had only a secondary effect and its influence was found to grow stronger as the angles of attack of the upstream and downstream fins diverged.