The plate can be fitted with injection slots at two streamwise locations as shown in the figure above. There are three instrumentation ports in the surface of the plate. These have been fitted with miniature drag balances and can accept other instrumentation. Optical Access Windows in the sidewall of the water tunnel provide access to the boundary layer for flow visualization or laser diagnostics. The instrumentation ports in the plate can accept windows to provide optical access from inside of the plate.
Limited access is available from above the plate.
The plate has been used to study drag reduction with polymer additives. Measurements include local drag reduction and mean polymer concentration profiles were determined by a laser-induced fluorescence technique. Published Description Petrie, Fontaine, Sommer, and Brungart, ARL Penn State TM 89-207, 1989. LDV measurements are taken of the circumferential average and phase-averaged radial and tangential velocity components. Cavitation inception and breakdown indices are measured over the complete operating range.