Micro-force measurement of drag on a small flat plate in the presence of a corona discharge

The design of a micro-force sensor suitable for the measurement of corona drag and other low velocity drag studies in a small laboratory wind tunnel facility is described. Example drag data are given for dc corona discharge generated by sharp parallel electrodes mounted on a microscope glass slide with discharge parallel to the air flow. The arrangement simulates two-dimensional flow over a flat plate useful for theoretical analysis. Measurements of free stream wind velocities in the range 0–210 cm/s with attendant drag down to 10⁻⁷ N can be detected in this facility depending on the calibration. The force sensor utilizes two strain gages mounted on a 0.127 mm stainless steel “feeler gage” in a cantilever arrangement. A bridge circuit provides sensitivities in the range 40–250 N/mV using a gravitational calibration technique. Anomalous effects from suspension wires and the interaction of electrostatic forces with the surroundings are discussed.