Application of Pressure Sensitive Paint at the University of Dayton: Small Rotorcraft Applications

Authors

Presenter(s)

Jacob Kulig

Comments

Presentation: 2:20-2:40 p.m., Kennedy Union 311

Files

Description

Traditional measurement of pressure on wind tunnel models requires individual pressure transducers or other discreet sensors. When considering a large area or complex geometry, placing an adequate number of sensors can be cost prohibitive and physically challenging. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides an alternate approach to such experiments, but often needs experimental verification. Pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) is a distinctive, appealing technique for providing pressure measurements in these cases. By measuring the intensity of a specialized paint’s luminescence, the pressure at almost all visible points on a test object can be found. In some unsteady aerodynamic cases, the paint mixture is altered to provide faster response times, thus allowing rapidly changing phenomena to be analyzed. This technique has been utilized for several decades; however, it is heretofore unused at the University of Dayton. This research provides the groundwork for the use of PSP in various applications at this university. The technique is then applied to analyze the ground effects of small rotorcraft blades. This will assist in revealing the underlying characteristics of the unsteady flow that occurs between a small propeller and the ground, as may occur in unmanned aerial vehicles.

Publication Date

4-19-2023

Project Designation

Honors Thesis

Primary Advisor

Carson Running

Primary Advisor's Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Keywords

Stander Symposium, School of Engineering

Institutional Learning Goals

Scholarship

Recommended Citation

"Application of Pressure Sensitive Paint at the University of Dayton: Small Rotorcraft Applications" (2023). Stander Symposium Projects. 2842.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/2842