Response behaviour of hot wires in shear flow

Abstract

The response characteristics of a hot wire operated at constant temperature and exposed to a mean-velocity gradient along its length are examined both analytically and experimentally. The shear sensitivity of local wire temperature distributions, as measured with an infrared microscope, are compared with predicted temperature distributions in order to select a convective heat transfer correlation which can be applied locally along a wire in shear flow. On the basis of this correlation, the steady-state and dynamic response behaviour of platinum and tungsten wires in shear flow are examined by means of computer-generated data. Response curves of general applicability are presented which can be used to correct local mean-velocity and turbulence intensity measurements whenever a mean-velocity gradient exists along a wire.