The application of laser measurement techniques to aerospace flows

Laser measurement techniques are becoming more commonly applied to many areas of thermofluids and heat transfer. An area of their application, which presents highly challenging requirements, is in the measurement of aerospace flows. In this case the experimentalist may encounter high mass flowrates, high-speed flows and in some cases high temperatures, and the measurements may also have to be taken with restricted optical access. Such types of flow have already been measured using established laser techniques such as particle image velocimetry, laser Doppler anemometry, laser-induced fluorescence and liquid crystal thermography. Other more recent techniques which have seen application include Doppler global velocimetry and molecular tagging velocimetry for velocity measurement and thermographic phosphor thermometry for surface temperature measurement. This paper reviews the most recent advances in laser techniques and their application to aerospace environments.