Temporally optimized spanwise vorticity sensor measurements in turbulent boundary layers

Abstract

Multi-element hot-wire anemometry was used to measure spanwise vorticity fluctuations in turbulent boundary layers. Smooth wall boundary layer profiles, with very good spatial and temporal resolution, were acquired over a Karman number range of 2000–12,700 at the Melbourne Wind Tunnel at the University of Melbourne and the University of New Hampshire’s Flow Physics Facility. A custom hot-wire probe was necessary to simultaneously obtain velocity and spanwise vorticity measurements centered at a fixed point in space. A custom calibration/processing scheme was developed to utilize single-wall-parallel wires to optimize the accuracy of the measured wall-normal velocity fluctuations derived from the sensor’s $$\times$$ -array.