Pressure Sensitive Paint Measurements at High Mach Numbers

Depending on the case study examined, different PSPs may be used, each applied using a different method onto the model. For polymer PSP the paint is sprayed on. In contrast, the model may first be anodized or covered with a thin-layer chromatography plate and then dipped in PSP. The objective of the present study is to analyse the characteristics of different PSP substrates at high Mach numbers which use two well known PSP molecules: (i) tris-Bathophenanthroline Ruthenium (II) Perchlorate and (ii) Platinum-tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) Porphyrin. Using a double ramp geometry under a Mach 5 hypersonic flow the feasibility of applying each of the aforementioned PSP methods is investigated and compared to discrete pressure measurements. The flow over a 3D bump under a Mach 1.3 flow is also studied to give a broader Mach number range. In the hypersonic tunnel, all PSP techniques and formulations were able to capture the complex flowfield with the results quantitatively agreeing with the discrete measurements. For the transonic bumps however, it was found that the polymer based Platinum PSP could map the flowfield more accurately.