Measuring the Dynamic Performance of Wind Vanes

Abstract

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has proposed a standard method for testing the performance characteristics of a wind vane. This paper presents the procedures used to test and evaluate the ASTM method, and the results of that evaluation. Twelve wind vanes were borrowed from manufacturers and tested using the ASTM procedures. The starting threshold, starting accuracy, delay distance, overshoot ratio and damped wavelength were measured. Damping ratio and natural wavelength were computed from the measurements. Based on the results of these tests, it is concluded that the ASTM method provides a reasonable and reliable technique for determining performance characteristics for many types of wind vanes.