Color change characteristics of two shear-sensitive liquid crystal mixtures (BCN/192, BN/R50C) and their application in surface shear stress measurements.

A previously determined surface shear stress measurement technique using shear-sensitive liquid crystal (SSLC) coating is extended for use in wind tunnel-like conditions. Simple and common everyday equipment is used in the measurement; in particular a tungsten halogen light bulb provides illumination. The color change characteristics of two SSLC mixtures, BCN192 and BN/R50C, are investigated. BCN/192 is found sensitive to both magnitude and direction of the shear stress at different shear stress levels with little noise, and is suitable for surface shear stress distribution measurements. The spatial shear stress vector distribution beneath a tangential jet is obtained using BCN/192, although the magnitude is not fully calibrated. BN/R50C is found to be sensitive to shear stress magnitude, but only slightly sensitive to shear stress direction at both low and high levels. Moreover, jumps in the reflected hue are found when the viewing orientation is perpendicular to the shear stress direction. These characteristics render the use of BN/R50C for surface shear stress measurement difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]