Assessing Videogrammetric Techniques for Measuring High Aspect Ratio Wing Deflection in Wind Tunnel Application

High aspect ratio (HAR) wings present remarkable aerodynamic benefits, characterized by high lift and low induced drag. Nonetheless, the flexibility of these wings causes significant deformations and nonlinear responses, making accurate prediction essential for understanding HAR wing behavior. Although nonlinear geometrical models have been developed, validation of HAR wings remains limited. Previous experimental approaches have primarily used contact methods, which are unsuitable for HAR wings as it alters the mass and stiffness of the structure. To address this limitation, this study proposes a non-contact videogrammetric measurement technique employing an ultrahigh-speed camera for motion capture. A new approach using a z-indicator is proposed to measure wing deformation. The experiment was performed with five configurations of effective angle of attack (AoA) in the wind tunnel test, predicting three-axis wing deflections. The experimental data were validated using conventional and combined modal finite element methods.