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Optical Flow Path Measurements --
Velocity, density, temperature and species concentration are measured
with non-intrusive laser-based methods within the gas path of aerospace propulsion engines. Applications also include bio-engineering experiments. Methods include digital imaging velocimetry, 3-D laser-induced fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, and molecular Rayleigh scattering, for example.
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Mobile and Remote Sensing --
The Mobile and Remote Sensing Development team provides a low overhead, fast turn around, rapid design and prototyping, "Skunk Works" style capability for the creation of certified and radiation hard space flight hardware. Team capabilities included imbedded microcontroller and DSP code developoment; development of RF communication hardware, data stream manipulations, and data logging interfaces; and flight certified electronics soldering and assembly.
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NDE Methods Development --
Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods are developed including holography, radiography, ultrasonics, acoustics, tomography, and thermography. NDE team capabilities include thermographic imaging for damage detection, certification of space flight hardware, development of wireless NDE for in-situ damage detection, and development of progressive damage modeling of composite structures. Embedded fiber optic sensors are used for health monitoring.
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Optical Surface Measurements--
Luminescent coatings are applied to surfaces to measure air pressure at the surface and to measure temperature of the surface. These techniques are used on internal surfaces of aerospace propulsion engines, on rotating equipment, and on ice built up on surfaces in our icing wind tunnel. Luminescent coating measurements are also used for measurement of unsteady air pressure.
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Nanophotonics --
Quantum communication and quantum entanglement sensing development enables ultra-low power communication links and remote sensing for NASA's tiniest robotic explorers. Nanoscale material is manipulated using optical trapping techniques. Morphology dependent resonance is developed for communication and sensing.
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Propulsion Health Monitoring --
Research is conducted in the area of structural health monitoring of aerospace components. Recent efforts focus on detecting cracks in turbine engine rotor components by global as well as local techniques. Vibration based monitoring, together with physics based models, represents the global approach while piezoelectric-ceramic patches are utilized for local measurements. The PZT patches are placed directly on the rotor for use as ultrasonic actuators and sensors as well as for impedance based structural health monitoring. Either slip-rings or wireless technologies are employed for transferring signals from the rotor to the stationary components. Also included in the localized approaches are traditional ultrasonic transducers and fiber optic sensors. Other activities include assessing damage in advanced materials (metallics, ceramics, polymers, and composites) subjected to mechanical loads while monitoring damage with multiple in-situ, nondestructive evaluation techniques. Such techniques are applicable to the structural health monitoring of advanced materials in land-based, aeronautic, or space structures.
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