Instrumentation, Measurements, and Experiments in Fluids

by Ethirajan Rathakrishnan

Overview

Mechanical engineers involved with flow mechanics have long needed an authoritative reference that delves into all the essentials required for experimentation in fluids, a resource that can provide fundamental review,
as well as the details necessary for experimentation on everything from household appliances to hi-tech rockets.

Instrumentation, Measurements, and Experiments in Fluids meets this challenge, as its author is not only a highly respected pioneer in fluids, but also possesses twenty years experience teaching students of all levels. He clearly explains fundamental principles as well the tools and methods essential for advanced experimentation.

Reflecting an awe for flow mechanics, along with a deep-rooted knowledge, the author has assembled a fourteen chapter volume that is destined to become a seminal work in the field. Providing ample detail for self study and the sort of elegant writing rarely found in so thorough a treatment, he provides insight into all the vital topics and issues associated with the devices and instruments used for fluid mechanics and gas dynamics experiments. Extremely organized, this work presents easy access to the principles behind the science and goes on to elucidate the current research and findings needed by those seeking to make further advancement.
Unique and Thorough Coverage of Uncertainty Analysis
The author provides valuable insight into the vital issues associated with the devices used in fluid mechanics and gas dynamics experiments.
Leaving nothing to doubt, he tackles the most difficult concepts and ends the book with an introduction to uncertainty analysis.

Structured and detailed enough for self study, this volume also provides the backbone for both undergraduate and graduate courses on fluids experimentation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780849307591
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/18/2007
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	520
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.20(d)

Table of Contents

NEED AND OBJECTIVE OF EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
Some Fluid Mechanics Measurements
Measurement Systems
Some of the Important Quantities Associated with Fluid
Flow Measurements

FUNDAMENTALS OF FLUID MECHANICS
Properties of Fluids
Thermodynamic Properties
Surface Tension
Analysis of Fluid Flow
Basic and Subsidiary Laws for Continuous Media
Kinematics of Fluid Flow
Streamlines
Potential Flow
Viscous Flows
Gas Dynamics

WIND TUNNELS
Low-Speed Wind Tunnels
Power Losses in a Wind Tunnel
High-Speed Wind Tunnels
Hypersonic Tunnels
Instrumentation and Calibration of Wind Tunnels
Wind Tunnel Balance
Calibration of Supersonic Wind Tunnels
Calibration and Use of Hypersonic Tunnels
Flow Visualization
Hypervelocity Facilities
Ludwieg Tube

FLOW VISUALIZATION
Visualization Techniques
Compressible Flows

HOT-WIRE ANEMOMETRY
Operating Principle
Hot-Wire Filaments
Constant Current Hot-Wire Anemometer CCA
Constant Temperature Hot-Wire Anemometers
Relation between Flow Velocity and Output Voltage
Hot-Wire Probes
Hot-Wire Bridge for Classroom Demonstration
Effect of Compressibility
Limitations of Hot-Wire Anemometer

ANALOGUE METHODS
Hele-Shaw Apparatus
Electrolytic Tank
Hydraulic Analogy
Hydraulic Jumps (Shocks)
Velocity Measurement
Experimental Study
Application of the Hydraulic Analogy
to Supersonic Airfoils
Experimental Study

PRESSURE-MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES
Barometers
Manometers
Dial-Type Pressure Gauge
Pressure Transducers
Pitot, Static, and Pitot-Static Tubes
Pitot-Static Tube Characteristics
Factors Influencing Pitot-Static Tube Performance
Pitot Probes
Static Probe
Pitot-Static Probes
Yaw Effect in Compressible Flow
Static Pressure Measurement in Compressible Flows
Determination of Flow Direction
Low-Pressure Measurement
Preston and Stanton Tubes
Sound Measurements
Dynamic Pressure Gauges

VELOCITY MEASUREMENTS
Velocity and Mach Number from Pressure Measurements
Laser Doppler Anemometer
Measurement of Velocity by Hot-Wire Anemometer
Measurement of Velocity Using Vortex-Shedding Technique
Fluid-Jet Anemometer

TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
Temperature Scales
Temperature Measurement by Thermal Expansion
Temperature Measurements by Electrical Effects
Practical Thermocouple Measurements
The Resistance Temperature Detector
Temperature Measurement with Pyrometers
Temperature Measurement in Fluid Flows
Temperature-Measuring Problems in Fluid Flows
Dynamic Response of Temperature Sensors

MEASUREMENT OF WALL SHEAR STRESS
Measurement Methods

MASS AND VOLUME FLOW MEASUREMENTS
Direct Methods
Indirect Methods
Volume Flow Meter

SPECIAL FLOWS
Geophysical Flows
Experiment on Taylor-Proudman Theorem
Experiment on Ekman Layer
Experiment on Spin-Up and Spin-Down
Transition and Reverse Transition
Measurement in Boundary Layers

DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING
Data Acquisition Principle
Data Conversion
Personal Computer Hardware
Data Acquisition Using Personal Computers
Digitization Errors Due to A/D Conversion

UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS
Estimation of Measurement Errors
External Estimate of the Error
Internal Estimate of the Error
Uncertainty Analysis
Uncertainty Estimation
General Procedure