Non-intrusive diagnostics for the AEDC Impulse Facility: applications and results

As part of a modernization of the AEDC hypersonic test capability, a free-piston shock tunnel, known as the Impulse Facility, was constructed. Initial shakedown and calibration tests were completed in 1994. The facility remained dormant until the recent resurgence in interest in hypersonics at AEDC. A cooperative project was established between AEDC and the DLR/HEG with the objectives of accelerating and improving the development cycle for both the Impulse Facility and the HEG. An integral part of this project was an ambitious plan for the use of non-intrusive diagnostics to provide key information about the flow field. This paper is essentially a status report of the efforts to date.