Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
High-Repetition-Rate Interferometric Rayleigh Scattering for Velocity, Density, and Temperature Meas
Project Description
Large ground-test facilities, which simulate real flow conditions from subsonic to hypersonic, are used extensively to generate forces and moments as well as surface measurements of test articles required to validate computational tools used to extrapolate wind tunnel data to realistic flight conditions and hardware. The development of fast instrumentation and measurement capabilities that can readily be integrated into the extreme conditions present under such test conditions is one of several major technological challenges associated with the design, building, and operation of these complex test environments. Spatially and temporally resolved measurements of velocity, density and temperature remain significant yet essential challenges in these facilities. Unfortunately, widely available current suite of flow-field probes exhibit varying degrees of intrusiveness, requiring either the physical placement of probes or seeding of foreign particles or gases. The proposed research program described here expands upon our successful Phase-I results and emphasizes the development and application of optical diagnostic approaches referred to as high-repetition-rate (up to 100 kHz) Interferometric Rayleigh scattering (IRS) and 2-D Filtered Rayleigh scattering (FRS), all-optical techniques that allow non-invasive multi-flow-parameter measurements to be made in any environments containing any kind of gases without the need to seed foreign particles or gases. The concepts and ideas proposed range from proof-of-principle demonstration of novel methodologies using 100-kHz-rate burst-mode laser system to measurements in realistic tunnel conditions expected in the current solicitation.
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Anticipated Benefits
The proposed research program will expand upon advanced laser-based, high-data-rate, multi-dimensional, multi-parameter, noninvasive optical diagnostic platforms for NASA ground-test facilities. Such diagnostic capabilities will be a major step forward in design and model validation efforts in subsonic to hypersonic ground-test facilities developing next-generation aerospace vehicles and air-breathing propulsion systems. During the proposed program, we will develop these measurement tools into compact, user-friendly, and mobile platforms that enable broad implementation in ground-test facilities. The expertise within this research team in state-of-the-art laser technologies, physics, and chemistry-based diagnostic techniques, and extensive product development and implementation background in defense, propulsion and energy applications will be a critical factor in realizing the proposed diagnostic platform and toolkit.
The advanced diagnostic toolkit proposed under the current program will be a significant step forward in using cutting-edge laser technology to address a variety of diagnostics challenges in multiple government and industrial applications. As this noninvasive multi-parameter optical toolkit is optimized, a major beneficiary besides NASA would be DoD test facilities developing advanced weapons systems such as supersonic fighter aircrafts, hypersonic vehicles, rockets and high-Mach number reentry vehicles. In addition, the rapidly developing commercial space industry as well as test facilities at conventional aircraft will significantly benefit by having access to such advanced multi-parameter diagnostic toolkits. Therefore, a wide market potential is expected in defense, industrial, and commercial sectors for the proposed technologies. More »
The advanced diagnostic toolkit proposed under the current program will be a significant step forward in using cutting-edge laser technology to address a variety of diagnostics challenges in multiple government and industrial applications. As this noninvasive multi-parameter optical toolkit is optimized, a major beneficiary besides NASA would be DoD test facilities developing advanced weapons systems such as supersonic fighter aircrafts, hypersonic vehicles, rockets and high-Mach number reentry vehicles. In addition, the rapidly developing commercial space industry as well as test facilities at conventional aircraft will significantly benefit by having access to such advanced multi-parameter diagnostic toolkits. Therefore, a wide market potential is expected in defense, industrial, and commercial sectors for the proposed technologies. More »
Project Library
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectral Energies, LLC | Lead Organization |
Industry
Minority-Owned Business,
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
|
Dayton, Ohio |
Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Ohio
-
Virginia
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