Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Application of femtosecond-laser tagging for unseeded velocimetry in a large-scale transonic cryogenic wind tunnel

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Experiments in Fluids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging (FLEET) velocimetry was applied in the National Transonic Facility and assessed for its use in providing quantitative velocity measurements in a large-scale cryogenic wind tunnel. Comparisons of freestream results with theory and existing tunnel measurements indicate that FLEET velocity measurements agree within 1% of the tunnel reference, while the largest error among all conditions remained within 2.5%. For single-shot velocity measurements, binning of the FLEET intensity data improved the signal-to-noise ratio sufficiently to provide measurement precisions on the order of 1% of the freestream velocity. After confirmation of system performance, spatially resolved velocity profile measurements were obtained in the wake downstream of the Common Research Model wing. Effects of the model angle-of-attack on velocity deficit profiles were explored, and a two-dimensional, one-component velocity map resolving the wake region was constructed by scanning the laser’s position within the test section. The experimental campaign described herein represents the first non-intrusive, quantitative measurements of velocity made in this facility since its inception in 1984.

Graphic abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Babuska I, Oden JT (2004) Verification and validation in computational engineering and science: basic concepts. Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 193:4057–4066

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Burner AW, Snow WL, Goad WK (1985) Model deformation measurements at a cryogenic wind tunnel using photogrammetry, vol 31. Instrumentation in the Aerospace Industry. ISA, pp 615–622

  • Burner AW, Goad WK, Massey EA, Goad LR, Goodliff SL, Bissett OW (2008) Wing deformation measurements of the DLR-F6 transport configuration in the National Transonic Facility. AIAA paper 2008-6921

  • Burns RA, Danehy PM (2017) FLEET velocimetry measurements on a transonic airfoil. In: 55th AIAA aerospace sciences meeting, Grapevine, TX

  • Burns RA, Danehy PM (2017) Unseeded velocity measurements around a transonic airfoil using femtosecond-laser tagging. AIAA J 55:4142–4154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns R, Danehy P, Halls B, Jiang N (2015) Application of FLEET velocimetry in the NASA Langley 0.3 meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. In: 31st AIAA aerodynamic measurement technology and ground testing conference, AIAA-2015-2566

  • Burns RA, Danehy PM, Halls BR, Jiang N (2016a) Femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging velocimetry in a transonic, cryogenic wind tunnel. AIAA J 55:680–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns RA, Danehy PM, Peters C (2016b) Multiparameter flowfield measurements in high-pressure, cryogenic environments using femtosecond lasers. In: 32nd AIAA aerodynamic measurement technology and ground testing conference. AIAA Paper 2016-3246

  • Burns RA, Danehy PM, Jiang N, Slipchenko MN, Felver J, Roy S (2018a) Unseeded velocimetry in nitrogen for high-pressure, cryogenic wind tunnels: part II. Picosecond-laser tagging. Meas Sci Technol 29:075203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns RA, Peters CJ, Danehy PM (2018b) Unseeded velocimetry in nitrogen for high-pressure, cryogenic wind tunnels: part I. Femtosecond-laser tagging. Meas Sci Technol 29:115302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark AM, Slotnick JP, Taylor N, Rumsey CL (2020) Requirements and challenges for CFD validation within the high-lift common research model ecosystem. AIAA paper no. 2020-2772

  • Cosner RR (1998) Experimental data needs for risk management in CFD applications. AIAA paper no. 98-2781

  • Couch JD, Sutanto MI, Witkowski DP, Watkins AN, Rivers MB, Campbell RL (2010) Assessment of the National Transonic Facility for laminar flow testing. AIAA paper no. 2010-1302

  • Danehy PM, Bathel BF, Calvert N, Dogariu A, Miles RP (2014) Three-component velocity and acceleration measurement using FLEET. In: 30th AIAA aerodynamic measurement technology and ground testing conference, Atlanta, Georgia

  • DeLuca NJ, Miles RB, Kulatilaka WD, Jiang N, Gord JR (2014) Femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging (FLEET) fundamental pulse energy and spectral response. In: 30th AIAA aerodynamic measurement technology and ground testing conference, Atlanta, GA

  • Edwards MR, Dogariu A, Miles RB (2015) Simultaneous temperature and velocity measurement in unseeded air flows with femtosecond laser tagging. AIAA J 53:2280–2288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fey U, Konrath R, Kirmse T, Ahlefeldt T, Kompenhans J, Egami Y (2010) Advanced measurement techniques for high Reynolds number testing in cryogenic wind tunnels. In: 48th AIAA aerospace sciences meeting including the new horizons forum and aerospace exposition, Orlando, FL. AIAA-2010-1301

  • Foster JM, Adcock JB (1996) Users guide for the National Transonic Facility research data system. NASA technical memorandum TM-110242

  • Fuller DE (1981) Guide for users of the National Transonic Facility. NASA technical memorandum TM-83124

  • Gartenberg E, Weinstein LM, Lee EE (1994) Aerodynamic investigation with focusing schlieren in a cryogenic wind tunnel. AIAA J 32(6):1242–1249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gartrell LR, Gooderum PB, Hunter WW, Meyers JF (1981) Laser velocimetry technique applied to the Langley 0.3 m transonic cryogenic tunnel. NASA technical memorandum TM-81913

  • Germain E, Quest J (2005) The development and application of optical measurement techniques for high Reynolds number testing in cryogenic environment. In: 43rd AIAA aerospace sciences meeting and exhibit, Reno, NV

  • Green J, Quest J (2011) A short history of the European transonic wind tunnel ETW. Prog Aerosp Sci 47(5):319–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodyer MJ (1992) The cryogenic wind tunnel. Prog Aerosp Sci 29(3):193–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer P, Pouya S, Naguib A, Koochesfahani M (2013) A multi-time-delay approach for correction of the inherent error in single-component molecular tagging velocimetry. Meas Sci Technol 24:105302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herring GC, Shirinzadeh B (2002) Flow visualization of density in a cryogenic wind tunnel using planar Rayleigh and Raman scattering. NASA technical memorandum TM-2002-211630

  • Herring GC, Lee JW, Goad WK (2015) Feasibility of Rayleigh scattering flow diagnostics in the National Transonic Facility. NASA technical memorandum TM-2015-218800

  • Honaker WC, Lawing PL (1985) Measurements in the flow field of a cylinder with a laser transit anemometer and a drag rake in the Langley 0.3 m transonic cryogenic tunnel. NASA technical memorandum TM-86399

  • Hunter WW, Gartrell LR, Honaker WC (1982) Some NTF laser velocimeter installation and operation considerations. NASA report CP-2243

  • Jiang N, Halls BR, Stauffer HU, Danehy PM, Gord J, Roy S (2016a) Selective two-photon absorptive resonance femtosecond-laser electronic excitation tagging velocimetry. Opt Lett 41:2225–2228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang N, Halls BR, Stauffer HU, Danehy PM, Gord J, Roy S (2016b) Selective two-photon absorptive resonance femtosecond-laser electronic-excitation tagging (STARFLEET) velocimetry in flow and combustion diagnostics. In: 32nd AIAA aerodynamic measurement technology and ground testing conference, Washington, DC

  • Jiang N, Stauffer HU, Roy S, Danehy PM, Halls BR, Gord J (2016c) Nitrogen molecular-tagging velocimetry techniques using ultrashort-pulse lasers. In: Proceedings of the laser applications to chemical, security and environmental analysis, Heidelberg, Germany

  • Jiang N, Mance JG, Slipchenko MN, Felver JJ, Stauffer HU, Yi T, Danehy PM, Roy S (2017) Seedless velocimetry at 100 kHz with picosecond-laser electronic-excitation tagging. Opt Lett 42:239–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilgore RA (1976) Design features and operational characteristics of the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. NASA technical note TN-D-8304

  • King RA, Andino MY, Melton L, Eppink J, Kegerise A (2014) Flow disturbance measurements in the National Transonic Facility. AIAA J 52(1):116–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Konrath R, Geisler R, Agocs J, Otter D, Ehlers H, Philipp F, Quest J (2015) High-speed PIV applied to wake of NASA CRM model in ETW under high re-number stall conditions for sub- and transonic speeds. In: 53rd AIAA aerospace sciences meeting, Kissimmee, FL

  • Ladson CL, Ray EJ (1987) Evolution, calibration, and operational characteristics of the two-dimensional test section of the Langley 0.3 meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. NASA technical publication TP-2749

  • Li B, Zhang D, Liu J, Tian Y, Gao Q, Li Z (2019) A review of femtosecond laser-induced emission techniques for combustion and fow feld diagnostics. Appl Sci 9:1906

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Limbach CM, Miles RB (2017) Rayleigh scattering measurements of heating and gas perturbations accompanying femtosecond laser tagging. AIAA J 55:112–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lutz T, Gansel PP, Godard JL, Gorbushin A, Konrath R, Quest J, Rivers SM (2013) Going for experimental and numerical unsteady wake analyses combined with wall interference assessment by using the NASA CRM model in ETW. In: 51st AIAA aerospace sciences meeting, new horizons forum and aerospace exposition, Grapevine, Texas

  • Lutz T, Gansel PP, Waldmann A, Zimmermann DM, Schulte am Hülse S (2015) Time-resolved prediction and measurement of the wake past the CRM at high Reynolds number stall conditions. In: 53rd AIAA aerospace sciences meeting, Kissimmee, Florida. AIAA 2015-1094

  • Michael JB, Edwards MR, Dogariu A, Miles RB (2011) Femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging for quantitative velocity imaging in air. Appl Opt 50(26):5158–5162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oberkampf WL, Trucano TG (2000) Validation methodology in computational fluid dynamics. AIAA paper 2000-2549

  • Oberkampf WL, Trucano TG (2002) Verification and validation in computational fluid dynamics. Prog Aerosp Sci 38:209–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oberkampf WL, Barone MF (2004) Measures of agreement between computation and experiment: validation metrics. AIAA paper 2004-2626

  • Peters CJ, Shneider MN, Miles RB (2019) Kinetics model of femtosecond laser ionization in nitrogen and comparison to experiment. J Appl Phys 125:243301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quest J, Konrath R (2011) Accepting a challenge—the development of PIV for application in pressurized cryogenic wind tunnels. In: 41st AIAA fluid dynamics conference and exhibit, Honolulu, HI

  • Ray EJ, Ladson CL, Adcock JB, Lawing PL, Hall RM (1979) Review of design and operational characteristics of the 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. NASA technical memorandum TM-80123

  • Reese DT, Burns RA, Danehy PM, Walker EL, Goad WK, (2019) Implementation of a pulsed-laser measurement system in the National Transonic Facility. AIAA Aviation Forum 2019. Dallas, Texas

  • Reese DT, Danehy PM, Jiang N, Felver J, Richardson D, Gord J (2019) Application of resonant femtosecond tagging Velocimetry in the 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. AIAA J 57:3851–3858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reese DT, Danehy PM, Jiang N, Felver J, Richardson D, Gord J (2018) Application of STARFLEET velocimetry in the NASA Langley 0.3 meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. In: AIAA aerodynamic measurement technology and ground testing conference, Atlanta, GA

  • Reese DT, Jiang N, Danehy PM (2020) Unseeded velocimetry in nitrogen for high-pressure, cryogenic wind tunnels: part III. Resonant femtosecond-laser tagging. Meas Sci Technol 31:075203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Retter JE, Burns RA, Fisher JM, Felver JJ, Reese DT, Danehy PM (2021) On the use of liquid nitrogen droplets as flow tracers in cryogenic flow facilities at NASA Langley Research Center. AIAA SciTech forum and exposition, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Shirinzadeh B, Herring GC, Barros T (1999) Demonstration of imaging flow diagnostics using Rayleigh scattering in Langley 0.3-m transonic cryogenic tunnel. NASA technical note TN-1999–208970

  • Snow WL, Burner AW, Goad WK (1982) Image degradation in Langley 0.3 meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. NASA technical memorandum TM-84550

  • Snow WL, Burner AW, Goad WK (1987) Improvement in the quality of flow visualization in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel. NASA technical memorandum TM-87730

  • Vassberg J, Dehaan M, Rivers M, Wahls R (2008) Development of a common research model for applied CFD validation studies. In: 26th AIAA applied aerodynamics conference AIAA paper 2008-6919

  • Vassberg JC, Tinoco EN, Mani M, Rider B, Zickuhr T, Levy DW, Brodersen OP, Eisfeld B, Crippa S, Walls RA, Morrison JH, Mavriplis DJ, Murayama M (2010) Summary of the fourth AIAA CFD drag prediction workshop. In: 28th AIAA applied aerodynamics conference AIAA paper 2010-4547

  • Viehweger G (1989) The Kryo-Kanal Koln (KKK): description of the tunnel conversion, thermal insulation, instrumentation, operational experience, test results and operating costs. Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD) CP-744, paper 4

  • Wahls RA (2001) The National Transonic Facility: a research retrospective. In: 39th AIAA aerospace sciences meeting and exhibit, Reno, Nevada, AIAA-2001-0754

  • Waldmann A, Gansel PP, Lutz T, Krämer E (2016) Unsteady wake of the NASA common research model in low-speed stall. J Aircr 53(4):1073–1086

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wegener PP (1991) Cryogenic transonic wind tunnels and the condensation of nitrogen. Exp Fluids 11(5):333–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willert C, Stockhausen G, Beversdorff M, Klinner J, Lempereur C, Barricau P, Quest J, Jansen U (2005) Application of Doppler global velocimetry in cryogenic wind tunnels. Exp Fluids 39:420–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Miles RB (2018) Femtosecond laser tagging for velocimetry in argon and nitrogen gas mixtures. Opt Lett 43:551–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Danehy PM, Miles RB (2018) Femtosecond laser tagging in 1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane with trace quantities of air. In: 53rd AIAA aerospace sciences meeting, Kissimmee, FL

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the entire NTF team; without their help these measurements would never have become a reality. Special thanks to Bill Goad, James “Monty” Montgomery, Bill Dressler, Adam Cramer, Roy Neff, and Eric Walker, as well as test engineers Josh Demoss, Scott Goodliff, and Chris Cramer. Additional thanks to Rudy King for allowing us to test out the FLEET system during the rake test, and Melissa Rivers for letting us “piggyback” during the CRM test and providing the CFD solution of flow around the CRM. Thanks also to Peyton Gregory for his assistance in designing the laser penetration system. This work was supported by the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Transformational Tools and Technologies project, as well as the NASA Aerosciences Evaluation and Test Capabilities portfolio.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, USA

    Daniel T. Reese & Paul M. Danehy

  2. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA

    Ryan J. Thompson

  3. National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, USA

    Ross A. Burns

Authors
  1. Daniel T. Reese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryan J. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ross A. Burns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paul M. Danehy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel T. Reese.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Reese, D.T., Thompson, R.J., Burns, R.A. et al. Application of femtosecond-laser tagging for unseeded velocimetry in a large-scale transonic cryogenic wind tunnel. Exp Fluids 62, 99 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-021-03191-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-021-03191-x

Search

Navigation