A New Multifunctional MEMS-Based Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor for Monitoring Static, Acoustic, and Turbulent Events in Underwater Applications

Actively monitoring pressure in fluids is essential in a variety of engineering applications. As industry trends point toward increased exploration and use of deep-sea and ocean environments, it is crucial to design and evaluate supporting pressure instrumentation. Of particular importance are micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) that combine reduced size and cost when compared to other relevant techniques. This work showcases the performance of Nanosonic Inc.'s MEMs-based piezoresistive pressure sensors; specifically, their multifunctional capabilities in monitoring static, acoustic, and turbulent events. Nanosonic sensors were evaluated though extensive water tunnel testing. Two sensors were surface mounted into a NACA 0018 hydrofoil and evaluated under a range of angles of attack (AoAs) and flow speeds. The results highlight the sensors' proficiency in monitoring static flow perturbations, acoustic events, and small-scale pressure fluctuations associated with turbulence. Static flow results were validated against flow visualization to analyze flow separation states. Acoustic events (produced from tonal noise) reveal key behaviors in the frequency domain and possess strong alignment with published literature. The acoustic response addresses the underexplored research area of tonal noise in underwater settings. Lastly, behavior consistient with turbulent decay was reported in high AoA flows, further emphasizing the sensors' multifunctional capabilities. The combined functionality of the Nanosonic sensor within a single sensing element invites the opportunity for use in real-world applications to streamline the performance of various engineering systems.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Taylor, Jack Giles

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Ng, Wing Fai

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Huxtable, Scott T.
• Paul, Mark R.

• tonal noise
• turbulent decay
• MEMS
• multifunctional pressure sensor

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:44412

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/135967