A Wire-Driven Parallel Suspension System with 8 Wires (WDPSS-8) for Low-Speed Wind Tunnels

Abstract

Based on researching into WDPSS-8, after analysing and comparing 3 support systems in wind tunnel including the strut suspension system, cable mounted system and wire-driven parallel suspension system, the following conclusions can be acquired.
1) Till now the strut support systems and rotary balances can be used in measuring the dynamic derivatives of the aircraft in low-speed wind tunnels successfully, wire-driven parallel suspension system has a great potentiality, but it is still under investigation.
2) The cable mounted system is one of suitable method for measuring the static derivatives of the aircraft in LSWT. Though it allows a large supporting stiffness, small interference of the streamline flow and a high measuring precision for large attack angle, it can not be used in measuring the dynamic derivatives.
3) Wire-driven parallel suspension system has opened a new horizon for measuring the static and dynamic derivatives of the aircraft in LSWT. Using the same system based on position control and force control in robotics, it allows to realize the free flight of the aircraft model and to obtain the static and dynamic derivatives. However, the results given in this Chapter can only be considered as a preliminary step in establishing feasibility，although the wire-driven parallel suspension system is a very interesting design, and it may be sufficiently developed into a routine practical system.