Inverse Temperature Mapping of Re-Entry Vehicle Control Surfaces Using Infrared Thermography
Abstract
This paper summarizes the development of an optical system to deliver rear face temperatures thermal maps of an EXPERT vehicle flap using near infrared thermography. The optical system consists of a wide angle lens assembly placed behind the flap, a fiber optic cable and a high rate near infrared camera. The camera transfers images to an autonomous data handling unit located on a colder area of the vehicle. After flight the temperature on the flap windward face is computed using the stored thermal maps as input to a coupled fluid dynamics-heat transfer calculation. The system has been successfully qualified for the EXPERT mission and the inverse temperature reconstruction will be tested in the Scirocco Plasma Wind tunnel. A further evolution of this system allowing simultaneous measurement of temperature and emissivity is planned for the IXV vehicle
- Publication:
-
6th European Symposium on Aerothermodynamics for Space Vehicles
- Pub Date:
- January 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009ESASP.659E..13P