Status and Prospect of Pressure-Sensitive Paint Technology

Abstract

This article reviews advances of pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technology made in the last decade. Emphasis is placed on technical aspects of PSP including paint formulations, measurement systems, data processing, and aerodynamic applications. From these reviews, the subjects for future work have been identified. These include the development of multi-color paints, lifetime measurement system, higher time-response PSP system, low-speed paint, and applications to hypersonic flow, high Reynolds-number cryogenic flow, and rarefied gas flow (or micro flow). PSP technology is still at a developing stage. Multidisciplinary cooperation between chemists, aerodynamicists and optical engineers is a key to the development of new generation PSP.