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The Anemometric Application of an Electrical Glow Discharge in Transverse Air Streams

Citation

Mettler, Ruben Fred (1949) The Anemometric Application of an Electrical Glow Discharge in Transverse Air Streams. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/RTBA-4692. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-11032003-110318

Abstract

The possibility of using an electrical glow discharge for quantitative turbulence measurements is experimentally investigated. It is found that a glow discharge is stable in a transverse air stream throughout the subsonic velocity range, and at supersonic air velocities up to a Mach number of 1.5, with no indication that this Mach number represents an upper velocity limit. A calibration procedure is developed and used in measuring the decay of turbulence behind a grid at low subsonic velocities. Comparison with decay measurements made independently with a hot wire anemometer under similar flow conditions shows that the glow discharge data is as yet quite badly scattered and somewhat inconsistent. A quantitative theory of the dark current anemometer is presented and gives results which agree in form with reported experimental results. A qualitative theory of the mechanism of the glow discharge anemometer and the first steps of the corresponding quantitative analysis are also presented.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Electrical Engineering and Aeronautics)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Electrical Engineering
Minor Option:Aeronautics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Lindvall, Frederick C. (advisor)
  • Liepmann, Hans Wolfgang (advisor)
Group:GALCIT
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:1 January 1949
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-11032003-110318
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-11032003-110318
DOI:10.7907/RTBA-4692
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:4383
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:04 Nov 2003
Last Modified:28 Mar 2023 22:09

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