Application Of A New Calibration Analysis Process To The MK-III-C Balance

A new process was developed at Ames Research Center for the analysis of internal strain–gage balance calibration data. The process uses an automatic math model selection algorithm that determines two possible math models for the calibration analysis. The first math model consists of the largest number of terms that the calibration data supports. The second math model uses only the most significant terms of each gage. Check load residuals are compared in order to decide which math model should be used for the final calibration analysis. The application of the new process to the Ames MK–III–C balance is discussed. In addition, a new calibration data screening technique is presented that uses a dimensionless difference between loads and responses for the identification of possible bad calibration points. Experience showed that this dimensionless difference may also be used to study interactions between gages.