UPGRADE OF THE ROLL-ANGLE-SETTING MECHANISM ON THE MODEL SUPPORT SYSTEM IN THE T-38 WIND TUNNEL IN VTI

Đorđe Vuković

Military Technical Institute, Belgrade , vdjole@sbb.rs

Biljana Ilić

Military Technical Institute, Belgrade, biljana.ilic@sbb.rs

Mirko Milosavljević

Military Technical Institute, Belgrade, vti@vti.vs.rs

Abstract: The performance of the  roll-angle-setting mechanism on the pitch/roll tail-sting model support in the T-38 wind tunnel in VTI was not satisfactory, because of an unacceptably large backlash in the planetary gear reducer and  unreliable DC motor drive and servo controller. The old mechanism was replaced with a compact servo actuator comprising a harmonic-drive reducer, an AC servo motor and an absolute position encoder. The new mechanism was integrated into wind tunnel model support with minimum modifications to existing components. A personal computer is acting as a controller. Tests have shown that backlash was reduced by more than an order of magnitude, and that rotation speed was more than doubled. This upgrade enables the wind tunnel tests to be performed with increased accuracy