An examination of suitability of multi hole pressure probe technique in skin friction Measurement in three dimensional turbulent flow

Measurement techniques for shear stress in three dimensional turbulent boundary layer flow have relied mainly on a combination of physical experimentation and subsequent empirical relationships or theoretical approaches supplemented by experimental correlation. Following the development of a skin friction measurement technique in two dimensional flow using multi hole pressure probe by Lien & Ahmed 2006, the present experimental study is an attempt to further extend its application towards measurements of skin friction in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer by measuring the shear stress angle more accurately. Experiments were conducted at the aerodynamics laboratory of the University of New South Wales. The results are encouraging and indicate that the shear stress angles in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer may be accurately quantified by multi hole pressure probe technique in a non-null mode.