Constant temperature hot-wire anemometer practice in supersonic flows

The performance of a constant-temperature normal hotwire in a supersonic flow is critically examined. It is shown that this instrument is inherently unsuitable for measuring turbulent temperature correlations because of the highly non-linear response to temperature fluctuations, particularly at low overheat ratios. The instrument is therefore limited to measurements of mean and fluctuating mass-flow rates. Suitable calibration procedures. as well as the limits on spatial and temporal resolution are discussed. and corrections for mean stagnation temperature changes are suggested. The instrument was used to measure the mass-flow fluctuations in a zero pressure gradient Mach 2.9 turbulent boundary layer. A comparison with the available data suggests good agreement.