There exists a large need in the fluid mechanics community for waterproof, conformal micro shear stress sensors. In Phase I, UM successfully fabricated and tested such sensors. The Phase II effort will integrate waterproof pressure, temperature, and shear stress sensors on the same flexible substrate. In addition, in an effort to produce a generic plug-and-play MEMS flow system, improvements will be made in the electronic control circuitry and the packaging. Finally, extensive validation tests, including both wide-ranging calibration and operation under harsh environmental conditions, will be carried out.
Benefits: The combined sensor system will give fluid mechanists a full understanding of surface flows. By improving packaging and electronics to the point that the sensing element evolves into a sensor system, UM will produce a flow instrument usable by any scientist or engineer. Aerospace companies such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, commercial companies such as Kanomax and Schlumberger, government labs such as NASA Langley and NASA Lewis, and military labs such as the Naval Surface Warfare-IHD have all either purchased or are preparing to purchase our MEMS shear stress sensors. The applications range from studying basic physics to studying practical external and internal flows on any sort of moving vehicle.
Keywords: Mems Hot Film Shear Stress Sensor Waterproof