Some NTF laser velocimeter installation and operation considerations

Two velocimeter techniques were considered as potential candidates for achieving the flow field angularity measurements. The first was the fringe laser Doppler velocimeter, (LDV). A great deal of experience was obtained with this approach at Langley and the literature is rich with papers describing many experimental applications and system performance details. That is, many velocity flow field measurements were conducted with the LDV but not with high resolution precise angularity measurements. The second candidate considered was the two-spot laser transit anemometer, (LTA). This approach was not as extensively used as the LDV technique, but literature does contain experimental applications and system performance details. Again, a lack of high resolution, high precision angularity measurements is noted for the LTA. The results of the study suggested that the LDV and LTA tests and other efforts did not reveal any fundamental problems that would suggest that laser velocimetry is not a viable diagnostic technique for the National Transonic Facility. However, there are a number of engineering problems that need to be solved.