Instrument for Measuring Pulsation Characteristics in Turbulent Flows

Abstract

The paper considers the design of a two-component strain gauge construction for measuring pulsation characteristics in turbulent flows.
 The analysis is carried out and the shortcomings of the existing sensor models and their influence on the reliability and accuracy of the experimental results are shown. The limited frequency range of such sensors is also emphasized.
 The design of the previous types of sensors is based on a plate on which wire or film strain gauges are glued. In such models, the main part of the perceiving hydrodynamic pressure goes to the formation of stresses in the elastic plate, and only a small part (up to 4%) - to create stresses in the strain-sensitive elements. Such sensors require an increase in the size of sensitive elements, this causes an additional disturbance in the flow, which in turn also reduces the accuracy of the measurement.
 The use of glue in the design of the sensor is associated with adverse effects such as creep and aging of the glue.
 The proposed sensor used strain gauges in the form of constantan wires stretched parallel to each other, which helped to get rid of elastic plates and glue, and also reduced the size of the sensing element.
 A construction of the sensor is shown and its design is described.
 The sensor has a free vibration frequency in water of more than 300 Hz, which is more than an order of magnitude higher than the frequency of water flow oscillations. This allows a more accurate measurement of pulsation characteristics.
 The principle of operation of the strain gauge is considered.
 The presence in the construction of four correspondingly located tensile strands made it possible to measure the longitudinal and transverse components of the pulsation velocities in turbulent flows.