Application of temperature sensitive paint for detection of boundary layer transition

Abstract

Temperature sensitive paint systems exploit the variation in convective heat transfer associated with changes from laminar to turbulent flow for detection of boundary layer transition. For this detection technique, it is important for wind tunnel models to have slow thermal response relative to convection heat transfer. Wind tunnels that can produce rapid changes in freestream temperature can create a model thermal response allowing temperature sensitive paint to indicate transition. Numerical heat transfer simulations provide acceptable estimates to assess test techniques and model thermal characteristics. Data are presented to substantiate that the desired test condition could be achieved for a period of time sufficient to document the boundary layer state.