EVALUATION OF A STATIC AND DYNAMIC ROCKET THRUST MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUE

Abstract : The report describes the procedures and results of a critical evaluation of a static and dynamic rocket thrust measurement technique. Two independent dynamic compensation techniques (reaction force summation and computer compensation techniques) were used in a 'hybrid' tandem configuration to eliminate force measurement signal distortions caused by the resonant frequencies of the thrust stand. The compensated bandwidth gave a factor of 16 improvement over the conventional load cell force measurement system. With force-time functions simulating a rocket firing, thrust stand natural frequency distortions were eliminated by using the hybrid compensation techniques. The time domain force measurement accuracy using hybrid compensation techniques was shown to be superior to that of the conventional load cell system.