Engineering topics

Lempert, Walter R.

Publications and source records attributed to Lempert, Walter R..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS2010

MHz-Rate NO PLIF Imaging in a Mach 10 Hypersonic Wind Tunnel

NO PLIF imaging at repetition rates as high as 1 MHz is demonstrated in the NASA Langley 31 inch Mach 10 hypersonic wind tunnel. Approximately two hundred time correlated image sequences, of between ten and twenty individual frames, were obtained over eight days of wind tunnel testing spanning two entries in March and September of 2009. The majority of the image sequences were obtained from the boundary layer of a 20 flat plate model, in which transition was induced using a variety of cylindrical and triangular shaped protuberances. The high speed image sequences captured a variety of laminar and transitional flow phenomena, ranging from mostly laminar flow, typically at lower Reynolds number and/or in the near wall region of the model, to highly transitional flow in which the temporal evolution and progression of characteristic streak instabilities and/or corkscrew-shaped vortices could be clearly identified. A series of image sequences were also obtained from a 20 compression ramp at a 10 angle of attack in which the temporal dynamics of the characteristic separated flow was captured in a time correlated manner.

Jiang, N.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Demonstration and Analysis of Filtered Rayleigh Scattering Flow Field Diagnostic System

Filtered Rayleigh Scattering (FRS) is a diagnostic technique which measures velocity, temperature, and pressure by determining Doppler shift, total intensity, and spectral line shape of laser induced Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering. In the work reported here, this is accomplished by using a narrow line width, injection seeded Nd-YAG laser sheet to induce Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering from a gas flow. This light is passed through an optical notch filter, and transmitted light is imaged onto an intensified charge coupled display (CCD) camera. By monitoring the grayscale value at a particular pixel while the laser frequency is tuned, the convolution between the Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering profile and the filter transmission profile is attained. Since the filter profile can be independently measured, it can be deconvolved from the measuring signal, yielding the Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering profile. From this profile, flow velocity, temperature, and pressure are determined. In this paper the construction and characterization of the optical notch filter and a newly developed frequency apparatus are discussed.

Forkey, Joseph N.↗

NASA NTRS1996

A 3-level Model for Schumann-Runge O2 Laser-Induced Fluorescence

A three level model has been developed for the analysis of Schumann-Runge band (B(sup 3)Sigma(sup -)(sub u ) <- X(sup 3)Sigma(sup -)(sub g)) laser-induced fluorescence of molecular oxygen, O2. Such a model is required due to the severe lower state depletion which can occur when transitions having relatively large absorption cross-sections are excited. Such transitions are often utilized via ArF* or KrF* excimer or dye-laser excitation in high temperature environments. The rapid predissociation of the upper state prevents substantial repopulation of the lower state by collisional processes, and the lower state may be largely depleted, even at laser fluences as low as 10-100 mJ/sq cm. The resulting LIF signal in such cases no longer varies linearly with laser pulse energy, and the extent of the sublinear behavior varies with the particular rovibrational transition of interest. Relating the measured signal to the lower state population, then, necessitates the use of exceedingly low laser fluences. These low fluences in turn lead to the need to compromise spatial resolution in order to generate sufficient signal.

Diskin, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Observation of Vibrational Relaxation Dynamics in X(sup 3)Sigma(sup -)(sub g) Oxygen Following Stimulated Raman Excitation to the v=1 Level: Implications for the RELIEF Flow Tagging Technique

The vibrational relaxation of ground-state molecular oxygen (O2, X(sup 3)Sigma(sup -)(sub g)) has been observed, following stimulated Raman excitation to the first excited vibrational level (v=1). Time delayed laser-induced fluorescence probing of the ro-vibrational population distribution was used to examine the temporal relaxation behavior. In the presence of water vapor, the relaxation process is rapid, and is dominated by near-resonant vibrational energy exchange between the v=1 level of O2 and the n2 bending mode of H2O. In the absence of H2O, reequilibration proceeds via homogeneous vibrational energy transfer, in which a collision between two v=1 O2 molecules leaves one molecule in the v=2 state and the other in the v=0 state. Subsequent collisions between molecules in v=1 and v>1 result in continued transfer of population up the vibrational ladder. The implications of these results for the RELIEF flow tagging technique are discussed.

Diskin, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Development of Filtered Rayleigh Scattering for Accurate Measurement of Gas Velocity

The overall goals of this research were to develop new diagnostic tools capable of capturing unsteady and/or time-evolving, high-speed flow phenomena. The program centers around the development of Filtered Rayleigh Scattering (FRS) for velocity, temperature, and density measurement, and the construction of narrow linewidth laser sources which will be capable of producing an order MHz repetition rate 'burst' of high power pulses.

Miles, Richard B.↗

NASA NTRS1995

The development of a tunable, single-frequency ultraviolet laser source for UV filtered Rayleigh scattering

We present the development of a flexible, high power, narrow line width, tunable ultraviolet source for diagnostic application. By frequency tripling the output of a pulsed titanium-sapphire laser, we achieve broadly tunable (227-360 nm) ultraviolet light with high quality spatial and spectral resolution. We also present the characterization of a mercury vapor cell which provides a narrow band, sharp edge absorption filter at 253.7 nm. These two components form the basis for the extension of the Filtered Rayleigh Scattering technique into the ultraviolet. The UV-FRS system is comprised of four pieces: a single frequency, cw tunable Ti:Sapphire seeding source; a high-powered pulsed Ti:Sapphire oscillator; a third harmonic generator system; and an atomic mercury vapor filter. In this paper we discuss the development and characterization of each of these elements.

Finkelstein, N.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Volumetric imaging of supersonic boundary layers using filtered Rayleigh scattering background suppression

We demonstrate the use of Filtererd Rayleigh Scattering and a 3D reconstruction technique to interrogate the highly three dimensional flow field inside of a supersonic inlet model. A 3 inch by 3 inch by 2.5 inch volume is reconstructed yielding 3D visualizations of the crossing shock waves and of the boundary layer. In this paper we discuss the details of the techniques used, and present the reconstructured 3D images.

Forkey, Joseph N.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Control of experimental uncertainties in filtered Rayleigh scattering measurements

Filtered Rayleigh Scattering is a technique which allows for measurement of velocity, temperature, and pressure in unseeded flows, spatially resolved in 2-dimensions. We present an overview of the major components of a Filtered Rayleigh Scattering system. In particular, we develop and discuss a detailed theoretical model along with associated model parameters and related uncertainties. Based on this model, we then present experimental results for ambient room air and for a Mach 2 free jet, including spatially resolved measurements of velocity, temperature, and pressure.

Forkey, Joseph N.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Efficient vibrational Raman conversion in O2 and N2 cells by use of superfluorescence seeding

We report first-Stokes vibrational conversion efficiency of 21 percent and 35 percent, respectively, in high-pressure O2- and N2-stimulated Raman cells. Broadband superfluorescence is employed to seed these Raman cells, significantly increasing the conversion efficiences with no measured effect on the Raman spectrum. The addition of helium buffer gas reduces competition from stimulated Brillouin scattering and improves the pulse-to-pulse stability and spatial mode quality by increasing the thermal conductivity. Further improvement of the spatial mode quality is achieved by use of gentle heating on the bottom of the cell to induce convection.

Zhang, Barry↗

NASA NTRS1993

Time-sequenced and spectrally filtered Rayleigh imaging of shock wave and boundary layer structure for inlet characterization

Multiple pulsed Rayleigh imaging and filtered Rayleigh scattering are used to generate images of a complex boundary layer structure, shock wave/boundary layer interactions, and crossing shock waves. Time-sequenced Rayleigh images taken with a visible, double-pulsed laser system show the evolution of boundary layer structure of the internal flow in a generic cross-shock inlet. The images taken in the inlet give insight into 3D effects caused by the inlet geometry and may be used for modeling the complex flows.

Forkey, Joseph↗

NASA NTRS1993

Stokes seeding of a Raman shifting cell for use in RELIEF velocimetry

The seeding of a high pressure oxygen, stimulated vibrational Raman shifting cell with a small amount of first-order Stokes radiation is described. The output radiation from this cell was used to vibrationally excite oxygen in a low-speed air flow, and that vibrationally-excited oxygen was detected using laser-induced fluorescence imaging (the RELIEF technique). Comparison of collected fluorescence signal with and without first-order Stokes seeding showed an enhancement by more than a factor of three when the seed was used.

Diskin, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Resonance lamp absorption measurement of OH number density and temperature in expansion tube scramjet engine tests

In this paper, we report results of hydroxyl radical and static temperature measurements performed in the General Applied Science Laboratories-NASA HYPULSE expansion tube facility using the microwave resonance lamp absorption technique. Data were obtained as part of a series of hydrogen/air and hydrogen/oxygen combustion tests at stagnation enthalpies corresponding to Mach 17 flight speeds. Data from a representative injector configuration is compared to a full Navier-Stokes CFD solution.

Lempert, Walter R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Filtered Rayleigh scattering measurements in supersonic/hypersonic facilities

Preliminary measurements are presented of flow field properties in Mach 3 and Mach 5 flows using filtered Rayleigh scattering. Filter properties have been characterized by high resolution spectroscopy in order to optimize the selection of laser frequency and filter operating conditions, as well as for the development of an accurate filter modeling program. An optimized filter is used the background suppression feature of this technique to image the boundary layer structure in a Mach 3 high Reynolds number facility and the shock structure in a Mach 5 overexpanded jet. This had been achieved using a visible laser source. By frequency scanning the laser, time-averaged velocity measurements in the Mach 3 and Mach 5 flows are made. Data acquisition at 10 torr and below indicates that this approach can be extrapolated for use in hypersonic flow facilities and is applicable as an in-flight optical air data device for hypersonic vehicles.

Miles, Richard B.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Work performed on velocity profiles in a hot jet by simplified RELIEF

The Raman Excitation + Laser Induced Electronic Fluorescence (RELIEF) velocity measurement method is based on vibrationally tagging oxygen molecules and observing their displacement after a short period of time. Two papers that discuss the use and implementation of the RELIEF technique are presented in this final report. Additionally, the end of the report contains a listing of the personnel involved and the reference documents used in the production of this final report.

Miles, Richard B.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Simplifications of the RELIEF flow tagging system for laboratory use

The use of an O2:He stimulated Raman cell to generate the Stokes beam for the Raman vibrational pumping step of the RELIEF (Raman Excitation plus Laser-Induced Electronic Fluorescence) flow tagging method is reported. Use of the Raman cell rather than a dye laser provides pump and Stokes beams which are automatically frequency matched and temporally and spatially overlapped. The Nd:YAG pump laser is operated multilongitudinal mode, which eliminates the need for injection seeding, resulting in decreased operation complexity and improved stability with respect to acoustic noise. Results are presented for 1st Stokes conversion efficiency and stimulated Brillouin backscattering loss and are compared to the case of pure O2. Scanning CARS measurements of the Q-branch lineshape for both pure O2 and the O2:He mixture are also presented.

Lempert, Walter R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Imaging of molecular hydrogen and oxygen by single and two-photon fluorescence using laser and flashlamp sources

Two flow visualization techniques, i.e., simultaneous two-dimensional fluorescence imaging of H2 and O2 in a diffusion flame, and quasi-linear fluorescence imaging of O2, are presented. The first uses an injection-locked argon-fluoride excimer laser and a partial overlap of a two-photon ground state absorption in H2 with a single photon absorption from a vibrational level in O2. The second uses a simple, high-intensity ultraviolet flashlamp which provides a flux of photons in the 180-195 nm range, sufficient to produce a quasi-one-dimensional fluorescence image of hot/room temperature oxygen. Both techniques do not require that a seed material be introduced into the flow, they can image major flow constituents, and provide an instantaneous snapshot of the flow.

Diskin, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Species and velocity visualization of unseeded heated air and combusting hydrogen jets using laser and flashlamp sources

Three techniques for the visualization of species and/or velocity in unseeded H2/air flames and heated air jets are described and preliminary image data are presented. The techniques described are: (1) simultaneous ArF laser imaging of H2, O2, and Rayleigh cross-section weighted density in an H2, O2, and Rayleigh cross-section weighted density in an H2/air flame; (2) ultraviolet flashlamp imaging of O2, OH, and Rayleigh cross-section weighted density in an H2/air flame; and (3) Raman Excitation plus Laser Induced Electronic Fluorescence velocimetry in heater air flows, up to static temperatures of 700 K. Application of these techniques, individually or in combination, should provide useful insight into mixing and reacting flows containing H2, O2, N2 and reaction intermediates such as OH.

Diskin, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Doppler-Shifted Raman Spectroscopy Measures Flows

Technique for measuring velocity, static pressure, and translational temperature of flowing molecules by use of stimulated Raman spectroscopy demonstrated in supersonic wind tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center. Nonintrusive, accurate wind-tunnel measurements obtained without seeding flows. Optical equipment for vibration-free Raman doppler velocimetry in wind tunnel includes specially designed retrometer that reduces sensitivity of system to vibrations. This capability very valuable in aerodynamic testing and proves useful in wide variety of laboratory, industrial, and engineering applications.

Exton, Reginald J.↗