Aerodynamic Force Measurements in the VKI Longshot Hypersonic Facility

Measurements of aerodynamic forces and moments on reentry bodies are performed in the VKI Longshot hypersonic facility, using a sting-mounted strain gauge balance. Inertial corrections are applied to compensate the effect of inevitable model vibrations. This involves the measurement of model accelerations, using miniature sensors. Inertial corrections are optimized, taking into account accelerometers transverse sensitivity effects, time lags, signal filtering or smoothing, and tuning for the inertia of the vibrating masses.