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Infrared Thermography - Notes
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IR Thermography

IR Thermography is a real-time, non-intrusive surface temperature measurement technique, used for measuring global surface temperature, heat flux, emissivity, flow separation and transition.

FLIR Image of Flow at Supersonic Conditions

Separated flow at supersonic conditions

Applicability:

  • Use of thermal imaging for aerothermodynamic measurements and detection of flow separation and transition
  • Highly useful for CFD validation

 

IR Image of Aero Heating of Missile Nosecone


Aero-heating of missile nosecone


Facility Requirements for Infrared Thermography:

  • Optical access to model required. Might require the use of infrared transmitting windows.
  • Minimize sources of infrared radiation in the test section to prevent reflections on model.
  • The flow medium must be able to transmit infrared radiation.
  • Able to provide a step change in the free-stream temperature (for flow transition detection).

Model Radiometric & Thermophysical Property Requirements:

  • High emittance (minimize reflections).
  • Low thermal conductivity (minimize thermal conduction losses).
  • Low specific heat (maximize temperature change).
  • Region of interest should be viewed along its normal vector (minimize directional emittance errors).

Benefits of Infrared Thermography:

  • Real-time global temperature measurement technique.
  • Non-intrusive.
  • Large dynamic temperature range (-50°C – 2000°C)
  • High accuracy (MRTD < 0.1°C)
  • A proven technique.

Limitations of Infrared Thermography:

  • May be difficult to get "good" data from models with less than optimal thermophysical & radiometric properties (i.e. high thermal conductivity, low emittance, & high specific heat).
  • May require infrared transmitting optics.
  • Current camera technology not suited for very low temperature applications (< -50°C).
  • Reduction and interpretation of thermographic data can be complex.
  • Laboratory quality radiometric systems can be expensive.

Facilities Infrared Thermography was used Successfully:

  • Basic Aerodynamics Research Tunnel
  • Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel
  • 8-ft High Temperature Tunnel
  • 31-in Mach 10 Tunnel
  • Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel
  • Gas Flow Calibration Tunnel
  • White Sands Missile Range
  • High Intensity Radiated Fields Lab Reverberation Chamber



   
 
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NASA Official: Lisa Le Vie
Page Curator: Lisa Le Vie
Last Updated: March 2022
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