What Model Deformation Measurement MDM Optical Systems Quantify Aeroelastic Wing Twist

Optical metrology engineers quantify dynamic 3D wing bending deflection and aeroelastic wing twist on wind tunnel models under high aerodynamic transonic dynamic pressures (q up to 150 kPa) using non-contact Model Deformation Measurement (MDM) video photogrammetry, conforming to European Transonic Windtunnel (ETW) measurement standards accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Modern transport aircraft wings are engineered to be structurally flexible, undergoing significant aeroelastic deformation in flight: high lift loads bend wingtips upward by several feet and twist wing sections downward (washout). Wind tunnel models—fabricated from high-strength maraging steel to carry multi-ton lift forces—also undergo small but critical aeroelastic bending and twist deflections (deflections up to 10 to 30 mm, twist angles 0.5 to 2.0 degrees). Because aerodynamic pressure distributions are exquisitely sensitive to local angle of attack (a 0.1-degree twist alteration shifts shock wave location by several percent of chord), true in-situ model geometry must be measured continuously.

MDM systems deploy high-resolution digital cameras viewing the model through heated optical pressure windows mounted in the tunnel test section ceiling. Arrays of miniature retro-reflective target markers (or fluorescent paint dots) are applied along chord lines across the wing span.

Pulsed LED strobes illuminate the test section; stereo photogrammetry triangulation algorithms track 3D target coordinates across pitch sweeps with sub-pixel precision (accuracy better than 0.02 mm in deflection and 0.02 degrees in twist). Measured deformed wing geometries are fed back into computational CFD inverse design codes to verify that cruising aerofoils achieve target design pressure distributions at flight cruise Mach numbers.

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