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A method for locating two dimensional critical flow features on a surface of a three dimensional body immersed in a fluid stream is presented. The method includes applying a hot film sensor array on the surface of the body. The hot film sensor array includes a plurality of hot film sensor elements d

A method for locating two dimensional critical flow features on a surface of a three dimensional body immersed in a fluid stream is presented. The method includes applying a hot film sensor array on the surface of the body. The hot film sensor array includes a plurality of hot film sensor elements disposable in a two dimensional array over at least a portion of the body surface. Each sensor element is connected to an associated anemometer circuit to provide an output voltage. The method further comprises obtaining output voltage data for each hot film sensor element with the body immersed in the fluid stream under a set of flow conditions and processing the hot film sensor element output voltage data to locate at least one two dimensional critical flow feature on the body surface.

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1. A method for locating two dimensional critical flow features on a surface of a three dimensional body immersed in a fluid stream, the method comprising:applying a hot film sensor array on the surface of the body, the hot film sensor array comprising a plurality of hot film sensor elements disposa

1. A method for locating two dimensional critical flow features on a surface of a three dimensional body immersed in a fluid stream, the method comprising:applying a hot film sensor array on the surface of the body, the hot film sensor array comprising a plurality of hot film sensor elements disposable over at least a portion of the body surface in two dimensions with respect to the body surface, each sensor element being connected to an associated anemometer circuit to provide an output voltage;obtaining output voltage data for each hot film sensor element with the body immersed in the fluid stream under a set of flow conditions; andprocessing the hot film sensor element output voltage data to locate at least one two dimensional critical flow feature on the body surface.2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one two dimensional critical flow feature includes a flow bifurcation line.3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the at least one flow bifurcation line includes at least one of a flow attachment line and a flow separation line.4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one two dimensional critical flow feature includes one of an estimated boundary of a boundary layer transition region and a mean transition line for a boundary layer transition region.5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one two dimensional critical flow feature includes a shock interaction line.6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising at least one of:zeroing the output voltage for each constant voltage anemometer under no-flow conditions; andcalibrating each constant voltage anemometer under no flow conditions.7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the action of processing the output voltage data includes:constructing at least one locus of minimum voltage data points to determine an estimated flow bifurcation line.8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the hot film sensor elements are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows and wherein the action of constructing a locus of minimum voltage data points includes:determining a minimum voltage data point for each row; andconstructing a locus of row minimum voltage data points.9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the hot film sensor elements are further arranged in a plurality of parallel columns and wherein the action of constructing at least one locus of minimum voltage data points includes:determining a minimum voltage data point for each column;constructing a locus of column minimum voltage data points; andcombining the locus of row minimum voltage data points with the locus of column minimum voltage data points to determine the estimated flow bifurcation line.10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the action of processing the output voltage data further includes:determining whether the flow bifurcation line is an attachment line or a separation line.11. A method according to 10 wherein the action of determining whether the flow bifurcation line is an attachment line or a separation line includes:comparing voltage data for hot film sensor elements on one side of the flow bifurcation line with the voltage data for hot film sensor elements on the opposite side of the flow bifurcation line.12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the action of processing the output voltage data includes:constructing a first locus from a first set of local minimum voltage data points to determine a first estimated flow bifurcation line; andconstructing a second locus from a second set of local minimum voltage data points to determine a second estimated flow bifurcation line.13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the action of processing the output voltage data includes:forming a set of constant voltage contours using the output voltage for at least a portion of the hot film sensors, each voltage contour being a representation of a line of constant shear stress at the body surface;identifying at least one local minimum constant voltage contour from the set of constant voltage contours; andestablishing at least one flow bifurcation line from the at least one local minimum constant voltage contour.14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the action of processing the output voltage data includes:forming a set of constant voltage contours using the output voltage for at least a portion of the hot film sensors, each voltage contour being a representation of a line of constant shear stress at the body surface;identifying a first local minimum constant voltage contour from the set of constant voltage contours;establishing a first flow bifurcation line from the first local minimum constant voltage contour;identifying a second local minimum constant voltage contour from the set of constant voltage contours; andestablishing a second flow bifurcation line from the second local minimum constant voltage contour.15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the action of processing the output voltage data includes:assembling a voltage data time series for each of the hot film sensors.16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the action of processing the output voltage data further includes:comparing the voltage data time series for adjacent hot film sensor elements to identify sensor element pairs whose associated voltage data time series exhibit a phase reversal;establishing a plurality of phase reversal points based on the sensor element pairs whose associated voltage data time series exhibit phase reversal; andconstructing a locus of phase reversal points to determine an estimated flow bifurcation line.17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the action of processing the output voltage data further includes:conducting a time series data analysis to identify the existence and location of a boundary layer transition flow feature.18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the boundary layer transition flow feature is one of a transition onset boundary, a mean transition line and a transition completion boundary.19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the action of conducting a time series data analysis includes:calculating an RMS voltage over a predetermined time interval for each hot film sensor element;identifying sensor elements producing peak RMS voltages; andconstructing a locus of peak RMS voltage points to determine an estimated mean transition line.20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the hot film sensor elements are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows and wherein the action of constructing a locus of peak RMS voltage points includes:determining a peak RMS voltage point for each row; andconstructing a locus of row-based peak RMS voltage points.21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the hot film sensor elements are further arranged in a plurality of parallel columns and wherein the action of constructing a locus of peak RMS voltage points includes:determining a peak RMS voltage point for each column;constructing a locus of column-based peak RMS voltage points; andcombining the locus of row-based peak RMS voltage points with the locus of column-based peak RMS voltage points to determine the estimated mean transition line.22. A method according to claim 17 wherein the action of conducting a time series data analysis includes:applying a Fast Fourier Transform methodology to obtain spectral characteristics for the voltage data time series of each hot film sensor element;comparing the spectral characteristics for the voltage data time series for the hot film sensor elements to identify the hot film sensor elements positioned in laminar, transition and turbulent flow regions; andestimating at least one of a transition onset boundary, a mean transition line and a transition completion boundary based on identification of the hot film sensor elements positioned in laminar, transition and turbulent flow regions.23. A method according to claim 17 wherein the action of conducting a time series data analysis includes:calculating an intermittence factor for each hot film sensor element;comparing the intermittence factors for the hot film sensor elements to identify the hot film sensor elements positioned in laminar, transition and turbulent flow regions; andestimating at least one of a transition onset boundary, a mean transition line and a transition completion boundary based on identification of the hot film sensor elements positioned in laminar, transition and turbulent flow regions.24. An automated system for locating two-dimensional critical flow features on a surface of a three dimensional body immersed in a fluid stream, the system comprising:a hot film sensor arrangement comprising a plurality of hot film sensor elements appliable over at least a portion of the body surface in two dimensions with respect to the body surface;an anemometer circuit arrangement having a plurality of anemometer circuits, each anemometer circuit being in communication with an associated hot film sensor element and being configured to provide a sensor signal corresponding to heat transfer from the associated hot film sensor to the fluid stream; anda data processing system in communication with the anemometer arrangement, the data processing system includinga signal receiving portion in communication with the anemometer arrangement, the signal receiving portion being adapted for receiving and processing sensor signals from the anemometer circuits anda critical flow feature mapping portion in communication with the signal receiving portion, the critical flow feature mapping portion being adapted for processing the sensor signals to determine the location of at least one critical flow feature line on the body surface.25. An automated system according to claim 24 wherein the hot-film sensor elements each comprise a thin metal sensor layer having a material thickness less than about 6 microns.26. An automated system according to claim 24 wherein the metal sensor layer is formed from nickel deposited on an insulated substrate.27. An automated system according to claim 24 wherein the at least one critical flow feature line includes at least one of a flow bifurcation line, a shock interaction line, a boundary layer transition onset line, a mean boundary layer transition line and a mean boundary layer transition completion line.28. An automated system according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of anemometer circuits includes at least one constant voltage anemometer circuit.29. An automated system according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of anemometer circuits includes at least one constant temperature anemometer circuit.30. An automated system according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of anemometer circuits includes at least one constant current anemometer circuit.31. An automated system according to claim 24 wherein the sensor array is disposable so that the plurality of hot film sensors are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows.32. An automated system according to claim 24 wherein the two dimensional array is formed so that the plurality of hot film sensors are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows and a plurality of columns orthogonal to the plurality of rows.33. An automated system for locating two-dimensional critical flow features on a surface of a three dimensional body immersed in a fluid stream, the system comprising:a hot film sensor arrangement comprising a plurality of hot film sensor elements appliable over at least a portion of the body surface in two dimensions with respect to the body surface;sensor data acquisition means for obtaining output voltage data for each hot film sensor element with the body immersed in the fluid stream under a set of flow conditions; andsensor data processor means for processing the hot film sensor element output voltage data to locate at least one critical flow feature line on the body surface.34. An automated system according to claim 33 wherein the at least one critical flow feature line includes at least one of a flow bifurcation line, a shock interaction line, a boundary layer transition onset line, a mean boundary layer transition line and a mean boundary layer transition completion line.35. An automated system according to claim 33 wherein the sensor data processor means includes means for constructing at least one locus of minimum voltage data points to determine an estimated flow bifurcation line.36. An automated system according to claim 35 wherein the hot film sensor elements are arranged in a plurality of parallel rows and wherein the means for constructing at least one locus of minimum voltage data points is adapted to determine a minimum voltage data point for each row and to construct a locus of row minimum voltage data points.37. An automated system according to claim 36 wherein the hot film sensor elements are further arranged in a plurality of parallel columns and wherein the means for constructing at least one locus of minimum voltage data points is further adapted to determine a minimum voltage data point for each column, construct a locus of column minimum voltage data points, and combine the locus of row minimum voltage data points with the locus of column minimum voltage data points to determine the estimated flow bifurcation line.38. An automated system according to claim 35 wherein the sensor data processor means includes means for determining whether the flow bifurcation line is an attachment line or a separation line.39. An automated system according to 38 wherein the means for determining whether the flow bifurcation line is an attachment line or a separation line is adapted to compare voltage data for hot film sensor elements on one side of the flow bifurcation line with the voltage data for hot film sensor elements on the opposite side of the flow bifurcation line.40. An automated system according to claim 33 wherein the sensor data processor means includes:means for forming a set of constant voltage contours using the output voltage for at least a portion of the hot film sensors, each voltage contour being a representation of a line of constant shear stress at the body surface;means for identifying at least one local minimum constant voltage contour from the set of constant voltage contours; andmeans for establishing at least one flow bifurcation line from the at least one local minimum constant voltage contour.41. An automated system according to claim 33 wherein the sensor data processor means is adapted to assemble a voltage data time series for each of the hot film sensors.42. An automated system according to claim 41 wherein the sensor data processor means includes:means for comparing the voltage data time series for adjacent hot film sensor elements to identify sensor element pairs whose associated voltage data time series exhibit a phase reversal;means for establishing a plurality of phase reversal points based on the sensor element pairs whose associated voltage data time series exhibit phase reversal; andmeans for constructing a locus of phase reversal points to determine an estimated flow bifurcation line.43. An automated system according to claim 41 wherein the sensor data processor means is adapted to conduct a time series data analysis to identify the existence and location of a boundary layer transition flow feature.44. An automated system according to claim 43 wherein the boundary layer transition flow feature is one of a transition onset boundary, a mean transition line and a transition completion boundary.