Form 9.B Project Summary
Chron:
971295
Proposal
Number:
07.02-5128
Project Title:
Multimeasurand Optical Fiber Sensors
for Flight Test Applications
Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)
Optical fiber sensors are rapidly emerging to
replace conventional electrical-based sensor
instrumentation in specific applications where small
size, low mass, multiplexing capability, and high
temperature resistance is a requirement. The
advantages offered by state-of-the-art optical fiber
sensors are particularly important for flight testing
applications where the extremely low-profile
geometry of a hair-thin optical fiber sensor permits
precise measurements of pressure, temperature,
skin friction, and heat flux with minimal intrusion
into the flow field. F&S, Inc. and researchers within
Virginia Tech's Aerospace Engineering
Department propose to develop a novel combined
optical fiber pressure, temperature, and skin
friction gage for distributed hypersonic flow
measurements during aircraft testing. The Virginia
Tech subcontract will be under the direction of Dr.
Joe Schetz who is a world expert in the modeling
and measurement of complex flow fields and the
first researcher to simultaneously measure skin
friction and heat flux at a single location. During
Phase I, together with Dr. Schetz, F&S proposes to
leverage previous experience in the development of
combined optical fiber pressure and skin friction
sensors developed primarily for wind tunnel
applications and investigate the feasibility of
miniaturizing and ruggedizing these sensor arrays
to make them compatible with the harsh aircraft
environment.
Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)
In addition to NASA's need for high-performance
optical fiber sensors for flight test applications,
there is a large commercial market for such sensors
for wind tunnel test applications, transportation
system design, development and operation,
semiconductor fabrication, commercial jet engines,
automobile engines, the metal, ceramic and wood
processing industries, and the power generation and
monitoring systems for coal-fired, nuclear and
fuel-cell technologies. F&S has also identified many
end users of micromachined optical fiber sensors
within the government such as Air Force, NASA,
DARPA, Navy, and the DOE.
Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,
Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)
Scott Meller
F&S, Inc.
2801 Commerce Street
Blacksburg , VA 24060
Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,
City/State/Zip)
Garnett S. Linkous
F&S, Inc.
2801 Commerce Street
Blacksburg , VA 24060