NUMERICAL ANALYSIS ON FIVE-HOLE PROBES TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF REYNOLDS NUMBER AND PROBE GEOMETRY IN SUBSONIC FLOWS

This work seeks to characterize the response of five-hole probes at various Reynolds numbers, Mach numbers, pitch and yaw angles and probe geometries using numerical simulations. This thesis aims to achieve the objective by developing a computational model of the five-hole probe in open jet flow. A structured 3D grid is generated to ensure all relevant flow field structures are resolved. The response of the five-hole probe is measured by investigating the change in the yaw and pitch pressure coefficients as a function of the Reynolds and Mach numbers. The numerical data is used to study some of the flow features around the head of the probe. It is used to study the variation of low-pressure bubbles and separation zones near the probe. A probe geometry with higher length to diameter ratio is used to study the effect of the probe stem on the response of the five-hole probe. Lastly, experimental calibration of the five-hole probe is carried out at select operating conditions in the openjet of the PETAL wind tunnel facility to study the response of a real system.