Abstract: A wall shear sensor includes a floating element fixedly attached to a base. The floating element has a sensing head opposite the base, a first flexure between the sensing head and the base, and a second flexure between the first flexure and the base. The wall shear sensor further includes at least one strain gauge coupled to the first flexure to measure a first directional component of wall shear stresses applied across a head surface of the sensing head; and at least one strain gauge coupled to the second flexure to measure a second directional component of wall shear stresses applied across the floating element surface of the sensing head, the second component being different from the first component. The wall shear sensors thus measure both magnitude and direction of wall shear. Wall shear measurement systems include at least one wall shear sensor within a sensor housing.

Abstract: A wall shear sensor includes a floating element fixedly attached to a base. The floating element has a sensing head opposite the base, and a split-beam flexure between the sensing head and the base. The wall shear sensor further includes at least one strain gauge coupled to the split-beam flexure, which measures strain imposed on walls of the split-beam flexure when a wall shear is applied across a head surface of the sensing head. The split-beam flexure has at least one channel defined through the split-beam flexure perpendicular to a first transverse axis of the floating element. The floating element sways parallel to the first transverse axis of the floating element when the wall shear is applied. Wall shear measurement systems include a test body, a sensor housing mounted to the test body, and a wall shear sensor in the sensor housing.

Abstract: A wall shear sensor includes a floating element fixedly attached to a base. The floating element has a sensing head opposite the base, and a split-beam flexure between the sensing head and the base. The wall shear sensor further includes at least one strain gauge coupled to the split-beam flexure, which measures strain imposed on a portion of the split-beam flexure when a wall shear is applied across a head surface of the sensing head. The split-beam flexure has at least one channel defined through the split-beam flexure parallel to a first transverse axis of the floating element. The floating element sways perpendicular to the first transverse axis of the floating element when a wall shear is applied across the head surface of the sensing head. Wall shear measurement systems include a test body, a sensor housing mounted to the test body, and a wall shear sensor in the sensor housing.

Abstract: Wall shear sensors include a floating element fixedly attached to a base. The floating element has a sensing head opposite the base, a first flexure between the sensing head and the base, and a second flexure between the first flexure and the base. The wall shear sensor further includes at least one strain gauge coupled to the first flexure to measure a first directional component of wall shear stresses applied across a head surface of the sensing head; and at least one strain gauge coupled to the second flexure to measure a second directional component of wall shear stresses applied across the floating element surface of the sensing head, the second component being different from the first component. The wall shear sensors thus measure both magnitude and direction of wall shear. Wall shear measurement systems include at least one wall shear sensor within a sensor housing.