Miniature probe for transonic flow direction measurements

Abstract

A miniature probe is developed for measuring flow direction in one plane as well as stagnation pressure in the boundary layer and near wake of a transonic airfoil. The probe tip geometry and calibration curves are given, along with near wake survey data obtained for a supercritical airfoil. The advantages of the probe are ruggedness, ease of fabrication, ability to measure flow direction at a point, and insensitivity to out-of-plane velocity components.