Detailed aeroheating information is critical to the successful design of a
thermal protection system (TPS) for an aerospace vehicle. NASA Langley Rese
arch Center's (LaRC) phosphor thermography method is described. Development
of theory is provided for a new weighted two color relative-intensity fluo
rescence theory for quantitatively determining surface temperatures on hype
rsonic wind-tunnel models and an improved application of the one-dimensiona
l conduction theory for use in determining global heating mappings. The pho
sphor methodology at LaRC is presented including descriptions of phosphor m
odel fabrication, test facilities, and phosphor video acquisition systems.
A discussion of the calibration procedures, data reduction, and data analys
is is given. Estimates of the total uncertainties (with a 95% confidence le
vel) associated with the phosphor technique are shown to be approximately 7
-10% in LaRC's 31-Inch Mach 10 Tunnel and 8-10% in the 20-Inch Mach 6 Tunne
l. A comparison with thin-film measurements using 5.08-cm-radius hemisphere
s shows the phosphor data to be within 7% of thin-film measurements and to
agree even better with predictions via a LATCH computational fluid dynamics
(CFD) solution. Good agreement between phosphor data and LAURA CFD computa
tions on the forebody of a vertical takeoff/vertical lander configuration a
t four angles of attack is also shown. In addition, a comparison is given b
etween Mach 6 phosphor data and laminar and turbulent solutions generated u
sing the LAURA, GASP, and LATCH CFD codes on the X-34 configuration. The ph
osphor process outlined is believed to provide the aerothermodynamic commun
ity with a valuable capability for rapidly obtaining (three to four weeks)
detailed heating information needed in TPS design.