Hot-wire measurement procedures and their appraisal through a simulation technique

The general response equations for a hot wire arbitrarily placed in a moderately three-dimensional turbulent flow are derived. These equations are then used to develop two procedures to evaluate the mean velocity vector and the whole Reynolds stress tensor through digital processing of the signals from single or x-wire probes successively positioned at different orientations relative to a fixed frame of reference. The accuracy of these and other available procedures is then assessed by means of a technique based upon computer generation of signals simulating the outputs from hot wires placed in flow fields of given characteristics.