Skin Friction Measurement Technology for Underwater Applications Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-098 Topic Title: Skin Friction Measurement Technology for Underwater Applications Proposal No.: N101-098-1833 Firm: Prime Photonics, LC 1116 South Main Street Blacksburg, Virginia 24060 Contact: John Coggin Phone: (540) 961-2200 Web Site: www.primephotonics.com Abstract: Prime Research LC (PRLC) proposes a novel device for measurement of skin-friction which promises to alleviate many of the problems historically encountered with practical wall-shear measurements. The proposed device is the culmination of many years experience with the design and testing of skin-friction gages, including at-sea evaluation of marine drag reduction technology. The proposed skin friction gage capitalizes on this experience and utilizes highly sensitive transduction techniques, low-friction bearing technology, and careful consideration of design for marine environments in order to provide a robust and accurate instrument. Benefits: The proposed skin friction gage promises to eliminate problems with past gages and will provide robust measurements for emrging drag reduction and boundary layer control technologies. Skin friction/shear stress sensors represent a subset of the flow sensor market and can provide highly useful information in ship and submarine design and monitoring, aircraft testing and flight measurements and certain niche flow measurement applications. A viable skin friction gauge for marine applications could play a significant role in the development and commercialization of advanced ship propulsion systems possibly facilitating billions of dollars of commercial activity. Return