2454. Mass Properties Measurement Errors Which Could Have Been Easily Avoided

Paper

Abstract

This paper contains a description of actual case histories of instances where a mass properties measurement error has occurred which could have been avoided (no names mentioned!). Some of these errors resulted from fundamental defects in the procedure; others resulted from very subtle effects which would have been hard to anticipate. And others are painfully obvious, once you realize the problem. However, the fact that these errors occurred emphasizes the need to have a check list, and to have a person who is knowledgeable in mass properties supervising the measurement. The purpose in publishing this history of real errors is to help you avoid these pitfalls. Many of us have made these mistakes (sometimes more than once). We hope that persons reading this paper will supply additional examples to the author, so that I can publish a sequel to this in the future.