Investigation of Wedge Probe Wall Proximity Effects: Part 2 — Numerical and Analytical Modelling

Abstract

An experimental study of wedge probe wall proximity effects is described in Part 1 of this paper. Actual size and large scale model probes were tested to understand the mechanisms responsible for this effect, by which free stream pressure near the outer wall of a turbomachine may be over indicated by upto 20% dynamic head. CFD calculations of the flow over two-dimensional wedge shapes and a three-dimensional wedge probe were made in support of the experiments, and are reported in this paper. Key flow structures in the probe wake were identified which control the pressures indicated by the probe in a given environment. It is shown that probe aerodynamic characteristics will change if the wake flow structures are modified, for example by traversing close to the wall, or by calibrating the probe in an open jet rather than in a closed section wind tunnel. A simple analytical model of the probe local flows was derived from the CFD results. It is shown by comparison with experiment that this model captures the dominant flow features.