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A note on Turbulent Skin Friction measured with a Preston Tube

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

Rajni P. Patel*
Affiliation:
Mechanical Engineering Department, University College, Nairobi, University of East Africa

Extract

In 1954, Preston introduced a new concept of skin friction measurement in turbulent flows by using a surface pitot tube. Since then considerable controversy has risen in the use of Preston tubes for skin friction measurements. However, Head and Rechenberg investigated Preston tubes extensively and confirmed the validity of the Preston tube method. Recently Rajaratnam has given a theoretical calibration curve for the Preston tube using logarithmic velocity distribution for the boundary layer velocity profile.

Type
Technical Notes
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1966

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References

1.Preston, J. H.The determination of turbulent skin friction by means of pitot tubes. J RAeS, Vol. 58, 1954.Google Scholar
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3.Rajaratnam, N.A theoretical calibration curve for the Preston tube on smooth boundaries for larger Reynolds numbers. J RAeS, Vol. 69, p. 136, 1965.Google Scholar
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