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Hypersonic Wake Velocity Measurements Using Acetone Molecular Tagging Velocimetry

by William L Shoemake, Christopher L Hall, Kristopher T Olshefski, Nicole F Nutter, Ryan S Glasby
Publication Type
Conference Paper
Book Title
AIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND co-located Conference Proceedings
Publication Date
Publisher Location
United States of America
Conference Name
AIAA Aviation
Conference Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America
Conference Sponsor
AIAA
Conference Date
-

A non-intrusive laser diagnostic known as molecular tagging velocimetry was used to find quantitative off-body velocity measurements in the wake of a sphere in the Mach 7 Ludwieg Tube Wind Tunnel located at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Acetone gas seeded in the flow was excited using the 4th harmonic of a pulse-burst Nd:YAG laser. The experimental results were used to validate and compare to simulations using a continuous Galerkin flow solver. Both the experimental and simulated results agreed on negative velocities in the viscous shear layer. Near the centerline of the sphere, average velocities of -200 m/s were observed due to reverse flow in the recirculation region. Outside of the shear layer, velocities of 800 m/s were observed in both the experimental and simulated results. The overall average uncertainty for the strut-mounted and free-flight case was estimated to be ±27 m/s. The flow features of the wake were visualized using schlieren imaging, and the experimental results agreed well with the simulated results.