An investigation on the interference of internal six-component wind tunnel balances with FEM

One of the factors which affect the accuracy of an internal wind tunnel balance is the interference. Within the scope of conventional balance configuration the reasons for the interference and the possibility of reduction were analysed with FEM. It proves that both the linear and nonlinear interferences can be reduced through a better design of structure, but they can't be totally eliminated. Therefore a new balance configuration was suggested, which is point symmetrical and thus geometrically interference-free.