HEAT TRANSFER MEASUREMENTS ON A RIBBED SURFACE AT CONSTANT HEAT FLUX USING INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY

Convective heat transfer over ribbed surfaces is a very complex process that requires detailed measurements for further understanding. The experimental technique presented in this article is a viable alternative to existing methods for providing local heat transfer measurements on a surface of complex geometry. Infrared (IR) thermography was used in a subsonic wind tunnel to obtain measurements of radiant power over a constant-heat-flux ribbed surface. The results using this procedure show the development of the thermal field near the origin of the ribbed surface. Velocity and pressure drop data illustrate the significant changes in the flow field (near the first ribs), which correlate with the infrared data for the thermal field.