Pressure sensitive paint system for the aerospace industry

Citation

(2007), "Pressure sensitive paint system for the aerospace industry", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779bad.011

Pressure sensitive paint system for the aerospace industry

Pressure sensitive paint system for the aerospace industry

Innovative Scientific Solutions Inc. (ISSI) has launched their Pressure & Temperature Sensitive Paint (PSP/TSP) system for aerospace research and teaching applications. The system was designed and tested in association with the Small Business Innovate Research program through close co-operation with Wright Patterson Air Force Base and has resulted in a fully proven and commercially packaged PSP/TSP system. To further advance this technology ISSI has retained TekMark Growth Partners to develop new business opportunities across commercial, government and university aerospace research and teaching markets.

ISSI's PSP/TSP systems are said to be an effective and non-intrusive measurement system over a wide range of flows and models from 20m/s up to Mach 5. These measurements include boundary layer transition using TSP, pressure and temperature on the suction surface of a rotating compressor blade, and heat transfer and pressure measurements on the impingement surface of compressible impinging jets.

ISSI's system is reported to be a fully integrated and proven testing and data acquisition platform. It comes complete with a light source, optical filters, CCD camera, specially developed paint with luminescent probes, paint guns, system software with a graphical user interface and all necessary connecting hardware. David Klein, a Principal Consultant with TekMark, commented, “ISSI's PSP/TSP system is truly an enabling technology packaged in a user friendly and cost effective design. Its ability to measure a variety of parameters for small models and thin surfaces not practical for pressure taps makes it an ideal platform for aerospace wind tunnel research and teaching.”

The PSP system is said to be capable of working with wind speeds as low as 20m/s, has temperature sensitivity lower than 0.1 percent/K and pressure sensitivity higher than 4 percent/psi. In addition to temperature and pressure measurements, the system is also capable of performing velocimetry measurements using a new technique, Particle Shadow Velocimetry that is similar to Particle Image Velocimetry. Finally, a new sensor for skin friction, Surface Stress Sensitive Films, has recently been developed. This technique has been used to make skin friction measurements in both air and water on several models as well as on the wall of an artificial heart. This technology is available as an add-on to the system.

Details available from: ISSI, Tel: +1 937 429 4980.