Disclosed herein is a technique of configuring flexible photovoltaic tracker systems with high damping and low angle stow positions. Under dynamic environmental loads implementing a high amount of damping (e.g., greater than 25% of critical damping, greater than 50% of critical damping) or a very high amount of damping (e.g., 100% or greater of critical damping, infinite damping) enables the flexible tracker system to prevent problematic aeroelastic behaviors while positioned in a low stow angle. The disclosed technique is further applied to a prototyping process during wind tunnel testing.

Disclosed herein is a technique of configuring flexible photovoltaic tracker systems with high damping and low angle stow positions. Under dynamic environmental loads implementing a high amount of damping (e.g., greater than 25% of critical damping, greater than 50% of critical damping) or a very high amount of damping (e.g., 100% or greater of critical damping, infinite damping) enables the flexible tracker system to prevent problematic aeroelastic behaviors while positioned in a low stow angle. The disclosed technique is further applied to a prototyping process during wind tunnel testing.

The invention relates to a system for measuring real-time aerodynamic drag of a moving vehicle, for example, a bicycle and rider. The system comprises a processor and a non-transitory computer medium for storing data. Further, it comprises a single, compact, multi-port measurement system (MPMS) comprised of at least two differential pressure sensors electrically connected to the processor and the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the processor is configured to convert a first differential air pressure from a first sensor to a wind speed, and to convert a second differential air pressure from a second sensor to a wind direction. The system further comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting forces, including barometric pressure, air temperature and relative humidity, distance, and speed, surrounding the moving vehicle. The plurality of sensors are electrically connected to the processor and the non-transitory computer-readable medium, and also store data.

The invention relates to a system for measuring real-time aerodynamic drag of a moving vehicle, for example, a bicycle and rider. The system comprises a processor and a non-transitory computer medium for storing data. Further, it comprises a single, compact, multi-port measurement system (MPMS) comprised of at least two differential pressure sensors electrically connected to the processor and the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the processor is configured to convert a first differential air pressure from a first sensor to a wind speed, and to convert a second differential air pressure from a second sensor to a wind direction. The system further comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting forces, including barometric pressure, air temperature and relative humidity, distance, and speed, surrounding the moving vehicle. The plurality of sensors are electrically connected to the processor and the non-transitory computer-readable medium, and also store data.

A pressure measuring device for a scale model for elastic similar structure of a wing in a large transport plane adopts a bracket for pressure measuring steel pipes formed by 3D printing, shapes of an upper surface and an lower surface of the bracket are completely the same as local airfoile profiles of a skin at required pressure measuring positions, and the upper surface and the lower surface of the bracket are bonded to the skin and wing beams; a pressure measuring hose is connected with the pressure measuring steel pipe, and the pressure measuring steel pipe is embedded into the bracket and fixed to it; the upper surface and the lower surface of the bracket are provided with semi-cylindrical convex structures; and the pressure measuring steel pipe extends out of the pressure measuring hole in the surface of the skin for pressure measuring steel pipe in the bracket.

Method and device for measuring fluid drag exerted by a flow-medium on a surface of an object by providing a testing device for measuring fluid drag exerted by a flow-medium on a surface, a suspension system for suspending an object having a surface, a setup for measuring fluid drag exerted by a flow-medium on a surface of an object, a computer readable medium, and a kit of parts for building a testing device.

A vortex vibration wind tunnel test model system for a long-span bridge and a test method thereof is disclosed. In the test model system, the base is provided with a plurality of adjustment members, each of the adjustment members is provided with a cantilever rod, and all of the cantilever rods are cantilevered in the same direction; a beam body model is provided on a cantilevered end of all of the cantilever rods; a displacement measuring member is provided below the cantilever rod, and the horizontal distance between the displacement measuring member and the beam body model exceeds 2 times a width value of the beam body model, the displacement measuring member being away from the surface of the beam body model and the position of directly below the beam body model. Therefore, the state response data of the position of the cantilever rod can be collected in real time. By calculating the state response data of the cantilever end of the cantilever beam, the state response data of the beam body model is obtained, which effectively reduces the damping of the model system and improves the accuracy of the model technical parameters. The test method is simple and reliable, which improves the real reliability of the wind tunnel test data, and can effectively meet the requirements of the high-order vortex vibration wind tunnel test for the long-span bridge.

A method includes simultaneously controlling and sensing aerodynamic loading of a membrane wing using a capacitance of the membrane, the membrane wing stretching under aerodynamic load, leading to thinning of a membrane thickness and increased capacitance, and using knowledge of the membrane's elastic and dielectric material properties to determine an amount of steady aerodynamic lift being generated.

A method includes simultaneously controlling and sensing aerodynamic loading of a membrane wing using a capacitance of the membrane, the membrane wing stretching under aerodynamic load, leading to thinning of a membrane thickness and increased capacitance, and using knowledge of the membrane's elastic and dielectric material properties to determine an amount of steady aerodynamic lift being generated.

An apparatus is provided for providing simulated smoke. The apparatus comprises a reservoir including a reservoir port, and a bladder disposed in the reservoir. The bladder can be deflated to cause a fluid substance to flow through the reservoir port into the reservoir to fill the reservoir with the fluid substance to generate smoke. The bladder can be inflated to cause smoke to flow out of the reservoir through the reservoir port to provide simulated smoke.