Spatially resolved skin friction velocity measurements using Irwin sensors: A calibration and accuracy analysis

This study investigates the accuracy of spatially resolved skin friction velocity uτ measurements using a large number of Irwin sensors (Irwin, 1981). A fast and simple procedure to calibrate the sensors against a two-component hot-film anemometer is introduced which leads to a universal calibration function that can then be used for all sensors. Insignificantly lower accuracies are obtained using the universal calibration function instead of individual calibration functions for each sensor. The overall accuracy of the skin friction velocity measurements averages about ±5% for uτ>0.13 m s−1 and decreases strongly to ±20% at lower uτ. The main sources of errors are as follows: (i) deviations from flush mounting of the sensors with the wall surface, (ii) inhomogeneous boundary layers produced in wind tunnels, (iii) pressure transducer inaccuracies, (iv) Irwin sensor geometry variations and (v) Irwin sensor calibration errors. An excellent linear relationship between uτ measured with the Irwin sensors and the free stream velocity as well as the good agreement of Irwin sensor with independent hot-film measurements validate the reliability of the measurement setup. An exemplary measurement of the skin friction velocity distribution around a single wall-mounted rectangular block is presented, discussed and compared to literature and can serve as a test case for simulations.

► We investigate the accuracy of skin friction velocity measurements using Irwin sensors.
► A universal calibration function is determined and used for a multitude of sensors.
► The overall measurement accuracy averages to about ±5%.
► The stress distribution around a wall mounted block is presented as an exemplary case.