Methodology for Static Pressure Measurement Under Confined Spatial Conditions in the Low-Pressure Range

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics
• Experimental Mechanics

Background:

• Standard Pitot probe design requires specific distances for static pressure tappings, often unachievable in confined supersonic flows.
• Geometrically constrained environments pose challenges for accurate aerodynamic measurements using conventional probes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a methodology for static pressure measurement with Pitot probes in severely confined supersonic flow conditions.
• To enable accurate aerodynamic measurements where standard probe configurations are not feasible.

Main Methods:

• Combined theoretical analysis, experimental measurements with specialized pressure sensors, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations using Ansys Fluent.
• Developed a high-fidelity probe model and free-stream flow analysis within CFD simulations.
• Established a correction coefficient by comparing experimental and numerical results based on CFD-derived free-stream dynamic pressure.

Main Results:

• A validated methodology for static pressure measurement in non-ideal Pitot probe configurations was established.
• Measurement errors were kept below 20%, with high agreement between experimental and CFD results in most cases.
• The proposed method successfully extends Pitot probe applicability to geometrically constrained environments.

Conclusions:

• The developed methodology provides a reliable approach for static pressure measurement in challenging supersonic flow environments.
• This research overcomes limitations of standard Pitot probe usage in confined spaces, enhancing aerodynamic measurement capabilities.