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The Development of Direct and Alternating Current Glow Discharge Anemometers for the Study of Turbulence Phenomena in Supersonic Flow

Citation

Vrebalovich, Thomas (1954) The Development of Direct and Alternating Current Glow Discharge Anemometers for the Study of Turbulence Phenomena in Supersonic Flow. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/95XT-RN93. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01222004-111758

Abstract

A direct current glow discharge anemometer (D.C. glow) was designed and constructed. This instrument was calibrated in low speed flow. Shock tube experiments with the D.C. glow indicated that its frequency response was greater than 50 kc. However, the shortcomings of the D.C. glow such as sputtering and asymmetric burning properties of the discharge became apparent. Therefore, a 700 kc. alternating current (A.C.) glow was designed and constructed. The time stability properties of this instrument were found to be much better than those of the D.C. glow. Since no frequency compensation circuits were used with the A.C. glow, the signal to noise ratio was much higher than that of a hot wire. This A.C. glow was used to survey the profile of the fluctuations in a turbulent boundary layer in supersonic flow at Mach numbers between 1.3 and 4. Power spectrum measurements of the fluctuations in this boundary layer were also made with the A.C. glow. These measurements indicated that there was energy in the spectrum above 100 kc. Finally, measurements of frequencies in excess of 100 kc. were made by the A.C. glow in a sound field produced by a source of single frequency ultrasonic sound waves in supersonic flow.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Aeronautics and Mathematics)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Aeronautics
Minor Option:Mathematics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Liepmann, Hans Wolfgang
Group:GALCIT
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:1 January 1954
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-01222004-111758
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01222004-111758
DOI:10.7907/95XT-RN93
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:268
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:28 Jan 2004
Last Modified:13 Jun 2023 23:34

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