Mid Sweden University

This study involves the development of a measuring setup capable of measuring Magnus and drag forces for a spinning cylinder, utilizing two force sensors. This device is produced for using in laboratories of Mid Sweden university for experimentations purposes. The measuring setup is equipped with an Arduino board, IR sensor and OLED display to indicate cylinder’s RPM (revolution per minute). The utilization of an aluminum chassis and supporting arms in this study guarantees that the measuring setup is robust, sturdy, and capable of withstanding vibrations and airflow. From design perspective this choice aligns with the topic under investigation, namely aerodynamics and airplanes. Most of the metal components are recycled from old devices like computers and the goal was to construct a setup by considering the environment aspects and sustainability goals. After construction part of the setup some experiment has been done in order to test the accuracy of the measuring setup. The experiment involved increasing the spinning speed of the cylinder within the range of 230-2130 RPM while measuring at 20 different points. The results of the test indicate that both the Magnus force and drag force increase with the spinning speed of the cylindrical object. This result converges with the simulation and theoretical research. Another additional function of the measuring setup is its optimization for studying airfoils. The angle of attack for the airfoil can be adjusted using an electromechanical gearbox and a rotating mechanism controlled by a switching mechanism. The test results of the airfoil demonstrate that the lift force of the tested airfoil increases until the angle of attack reaches between 10-25 degrees, after which it decreases. Conversely, the drag force increases with an increase in the angle of attack. This setup will be utilized at Mid Sweden University for studying the Magnus effect and replacing the pervious setup for conducting airfoil experiments.