Skin friction measurements on reflective surfaces using nematic liquid crystal

A new liquid crystal technique for full surface skin friction measurements is introduced. With the new technique, the transmission of light through nematic liquid crystal viewed in reflection provides a quantitative measurement of the skin friction. The measurement technique is discussed with the ai...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experiments in fluids 2000-01, Vol.28 (1), p.64-73
Main Authors: BUTTSWORTH, D. R, ELSTON, S. J, JONES, T. V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Exact sciences and technology
Fluid dynamics
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Instrumentation for fluid dynamics
Laminar boundary layers
Laminar flows
Physics
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Summary:A new liquid crystal technique for full surface skin friction measurements is introduced. With the new technique, the transmission of light through nematic liquid crystal viewed in reflection provides a quantitative measurement of the skin friction. The measurement technique is discussed with the aid of a model that describes the rotation dynamics of the liquid crystal molecules. Calibration experiments performed in a laminar flow duct demonstrate that the model captures the essential physics of the new technique. The measurement of skin friction downstream of a 3D roughness element in an incompressible laminar boundary layer is presented as a demonstration of the utility of the technique. (Author)
ISSN:0723-4864
1432-1114
DOI:10.1007/s003480050009