Advanced High-Temperature Instrumentation for Hot Section Research Applications

Programs to develop research instrumentation for use in turbine engine hot sections are described. These programs were initiated to provide improved measurement capability as support for a multidisciplinary effort to establish technology leading to improved hot section durability. Specific measurement systems described here include heat flux sensors, a dynamic gas temperature measuring system, laser anemometry for hot section applications, an optical system for viewing the interior of a combustor during operation, thin film sensors for surface temperature and strain measurements, and high-temperature strain measuring systems. The paper will describe the state of development of these sensors and measuring systems and, in some cases, will show examples of measurements made with this instrumentation. The paper covers work done at the NASA Lewis Research Center and at various contract and grant facilities.