Characterization and Optimization of Temperature-Sensitive Microbeads for Simultaneous Thermometry and Velocimetry for Fluid Dynamic Applications

Luminescent paint is an established method for measuring both pressure and temperature distributions on surfaces. These Temperature-Sensitive Paints (TSP) and Pressure-Sensitive Paints (PSP) are commercially available and used regularly in the study of fluids. New microbeads using temperature-sensitive dyes were developed for applications in wind and water tunnel measurement. A novel method was developed to measure their response times to temperature changes. Their sensitivity to temperature change was also measured. A new optical system and software suite were developed. Methods for reducing spatial variations due to excitation energy were also developed.