2-D and 3-D numerical modelling of a dynamic resonant shear stress sensor

Despite the importance of wall shear stress measurements in both fundamental and applied fluid dynamic problems, sensors for this application suffer from several shortcomings. A new class of wall shear stress sensor concept that addresses these shortcomings is studied numerically. The properties of a dynamic resonant shear stress sensor are determined using a specially-developed two-dimensional unsteady boundary layer code and a commercially available three-dimensional fluid model. Several characteristics of the sensors are determined using these models including: static sensitivities with and without pressure gradients, sensor design parameter effects. These results indicate that low amplitude, high resonant frequency operation associated with small sensors will have optimum performance. These results also suggest that a MEMS implementation of this sensor should provide the capability of measuring wall shear stress fluctuations in turbulent flows.