Citation:
Debiasi MT, Atkinson K, Saddington A, Finnis M. (2023) Aero-whisker for the measurement of aircraft flight speed and angle of attack in compressible flow conditions. In: 2023 AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition (AIAA AVIATION Forum), 12-16 June 2023, San Diego, USA. Paper number AIAA 2023-4079
Abstract:
A whisker-like device has been designed and tested that simultaneously measures the speed and the direction of a flow in which it protrudes. The device consists of a thin cylindrical probe longer than the thickness of the local boundary layer whose aerodynamic drag produces a moment at its base which is measured by a solid-state torque transducer. With proper calibration, the orthogonal components of the moment can be used to measure the speed and the direction of the flow. Measurements have been performed in a wind tunnel to validate the design at flow velocities ranging from Mach 0.15 to Mach 0.87 and for flow angles relative to the probe ranging from -88° to +88°. The results obtained indicate that the aero-whisker is capable to accurately measure the Mach number and direction of the flow with potential for further optimization for aircraft applications.