Thermal sensitive paints (TSPs) are used for global nonintrusive detection of boundary layer transition in flow over the surface of wind tunnel research models. Since the transition is a transient process, the TSP should have a fast response characteristic. A low paint thermal conductivity is required for fast response. A thin-film thermal conductivity meter (TFTCM) was designed and built to measure thermal conductivity of the TSPs, which are typically between 50 and 150 microm thick. In this paper, the design and operating features of the TFTCM are described. Measurement of the thermal conductivity with this TFTCM of three standard thin-film low conductivity specimens, Kapton, Teflon, and Borofloat glass, showed good agreement with the manufacturer quoted values, thus validating the instrument and the procedure. Consistently repeatable values for thermal conductivity (k=0.41 +/- 0.02 W/m K) were also obtained for the TSP specimen (TSB-B, 75 microm) tested.

The energy loss caused by biofouling is costing the marine operations millions of dollars because of lack of complete understanding of their roughness characteristics. Marine biofouling roughness is generally randomly distributed in space, and also varies in shape and texture. The common practice in hydrodynamic analysis is to ignore the details and express them simply by means of a representative length scale dimension. However, many recent studies have shown that this is not a satisfactory approach, particularly when the roughness height is large. The present research aims to develop a better measure of biofouling roughness by using an innovative image analysis technique to model and predict the related hydrodynamic phenomena. The proposed technique employs a combination of stochastic and triangulation techniques that are commonly used in image analysis. An overview of these techniques for surface topography measurement is provided. The present method uses two images of the surface, one from back lighting to spatially locate the roughness peaks and the second from side lighting to determine the height information at each corresponding spatial location. Thus, a three-dimensional surface roughness distribution can be obtained. Results of some experiments on layers of taped surface and barnacle-laden surface suggests that this method can be used to measure flexible roughness height to within 10% accuracy, with possible improvement with a better lighting and camera resolution.

Filamentous algae fouling, such as Enteromorpha clathrata, is a soft and hairylike roughness that sometimes grows even thicker than a normal boundary layer. Typically, such fouling has been treated as traditional roughness functions to yield hydrodynamic characteristics. This technique has been successfully used for a thin fouling layer. However, it may not be applicable on a thicker layer, as the present study found substantial fluid flow within the layer. For such cases, the roughness cannot be treated simply as a passive geometric variable, but its kinematics and interactions with the flow must be considered. The inner law (log law) dynamics may be abnormal to yield any meaningful roughness function if it is calculated in the traditional way as the departure of a rough-wall log law profile over a smooth-wall log law profile. In the present research, velocity measurement of the E. clathrata roughness boundary layer using pitot-static tube and laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) were compared. Large discrepancies in the velocity profiles within and in the vicinity of the roughness layer were observed between the two methods. The pitot-static tube data showed significantly high velocities (60% to 80% of the free stream) in the inner layer as compared to a smooth wall boundary layer. This local increase in velocity is believed to be the result of elastic transfer of free-stream energy to the near-wall motions by the E. clathrata filaments. Consequently, the usual assumption of the normal pressure gradient as a negligible second-order term for a normal zero-pressure gradient boundary layer may not be valid for the present kind of roughness. The LDV velocity measurements near and within the roughness layer have large uncertainties due to interference of the probe volume by the E. clathrata filaments. Above the roughness, the pitot-static tube and LDV profiles show relatively good agreement. It is concluded that for accurate prediction of the wall shear stress with E. clathrata-type of bio-fouling roughness, the Clauser velocity loss function should include a form drag factor instead of only the viscous drag factor.