Spin Rig (Glenn Research Center

One particular facility of many, a spin test rig built at Lewis in 1983 is mentioned here because its stated purpose was not primarily the test­ing of engine parts to verify the parts but the testing of engine parts to verify analysis methods: "The Lewis Research Center spin rig was con­structed to provide experimental evaluation of analysis methods devel­oped under the NASA Engine Structural Dynamics Program. Rotors up to 51 cm (20 in.) in diameter can be spun to 16,000 rpm in vacuum by an air motor. Vibration forcing functions are provided by shakers that apply oscillatory axial forces or transverse moments to the shaft, by a natural whirling of the shaft, and by an air jet. Blade vibration is detected by strain gages and optical tip blade-motion sensors.”[1012]