Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory - Transonic (AAOL-T)
Abstract
Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory - Transonic (AAOL-T)This work for the Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory ~ T (AAOL-T) has an overall objective of continuing research to advance the understanding of aero effects that include aero-optics and aero buffet, which have now proven to limit an airborne high-energy laser~s effectivefield of regard. Beyond documenting the causes and character of the aero-optical effects that limit the field of regard, we study mitigation approaches that look at the effect of modifications to a turret~s mold line as well as the use of flow control and adaptive-optic technologies tomitigate the aero-optic effects so that the field of regard might be expanded as required to enable mission objectives presently prohibited by available field of regard. This grant specifically addresses transonic flight and has extended scaling laws to Mach numbers of Mach 0.8+. Methods used in this study include Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Wind TunnelExperimentation, Theory and most uniquely Flight Test. The flight portion of the program makes use of two jet aircraft flying in formation with one projecting a diverging laser beam which is then captured by the turret on the second, laboratory aircraft. To achieve the high Machnumber limit required the use of Falcon 10~s which have a limit of Mach 0.87.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 23, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141613186
Entities
People
- Eric Jumper
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Notre Dame