An original Pitot-static probe design for subsonic boundary layer investigation

This work presents a Pitot-static probe designed and developed to help in some boundary layer (BL) measurements, as for instance when average velocity profiles are required around models already available for wind tunnel tests but not provided with static pressure taps. The probe reads both total and static pressures at the desired location and by traversing it through the BL leads to the desired velocity measurements on the body under test, without having to rebuild the model and without using more expensive and complicated techniques. The probe is presented by describing its geometry in detail and completing the information by the relevant operating instructions. The probe response is then characterized by reporting its directional sensitivity and a validation for a standard test case. The specific probe presented here is suitable for a certain range of BL thicknesses, however the design can be easily scaled to different ranges. (paper)