The measurement of skin friction in turbulent boundary layers with adverse pressure gradients

Abstract

This paper describes a floating-element skin friction meter which has been designed for use in adverse pressure gradients. The effects of secondary forces on the element, which arise from the pressure gradient, are examined in some detail. The limitations of various methods of measuring wall shear stress are discussed and the results from the floating element device are compared with measurements taken in a two-dimensional boundary layer using Preston tubes and velocity profiles. As it is planned to use the instrument later for direct measurements of the shear stress in three-dimensional boundary layers, the relevance of the instrument to this situation is also discussed.