Using Computational Fluid Dynamics to Examine Fluctuating Pressure in Pitot Tube Measurements
Faculty Sponsor
Pete Johnson
College
College of Engineering (COE)
Discipline(s)
Mechanical Engineering, Fluid Mechanics
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 4-24-2025
Abstract
This project utilizes Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze the accuracy and behavior of a pitot tube in measuring the speed of a moving bicycle. A pitot tube is a common device for measuring fluid velocity by comparing the stagnation pressure of a moving fluid to the static pressure. CFD can simulate the fluid flow using governing equations of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. The CFD is done using SimScale, a free to use, cloud-based software. By simulating riding conditions, this project will examine the aerodynamic interactions between the pitot tube and the surrounding airflow. Values such as the stagnation pressure can be extracted while also investigating a more detailed view of the behavior of the air inside the pitot tube. Fluctuating pressure measurements have been observed in an experimental setting, so the goal of this project is to test 3 different diameters of the pitot tube for their steadiness in the measured pressure. The results of this study help determine the feasibility of using pitot tubes on bicycles and provide insight into the measurements that the pitot tube is making in the real world.
Recommended Citation
Starkenburg, Samuel, "Using Computational Fluid Dynamics to Examine Fluctuating Pressure in Pitot Tube Measurements" (2025). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1464.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1464
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Sam Starkenburg is a third-year student in the College of Engineering studying Mechanical Engineering.