Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) in Cavitation Environments

Abstract

Cavitation can degrade the propulsion of surface ships. The collapse of cavitation bubbles near thepropeller generates high pressures and stresses on the propeller surface. Over time, this can lead to verysignificant surface erosion damage resulting in decreased performance and costly upgrades. It is thereforeimportant to better understand the fundamental processes responsible for cavitation in order to alleviate itseffects. Measuring the pressure associated with collapsing bubbles is very challenging for most probes.They must have a very fast response rate while being sufficiently strong to resist to such conditions. Thissets contradictory requirements on intrusive mechanical probes. Here it is proposed to use a laserspectroscopic scheme (Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy or TDLAS) to directly measure thepressure and temperature in gas bubble by probing the gas molecules with fine lasers. By directlymeasuring the gas molecules response to external conditions, these conditions can be inferred at muchhigher response rate than any mechanical system; it can also be hardened. For this project, an existingsystem at The George Washington University will be adapted and demonstrated at University ofMichigan.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jul 27, 2018
Source ID
N000141812695

Entities

People

  • Philippe Bardet

Organizations

  • George Washington University
  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers