Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
Design of Optical Emission Spectroscopy Sensors for Hypersonic Vehicle Control202 views
Author
Chern, Max, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering - School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia0009-0000-2953-838X
Advisors
Goyne, Chris, EN-Mech & Aero Engr Dept, University of Virginia
Dedic, Chloe, EN-Mech & Aero Engr Dept, University of Virginia
Abstract
Hypersonic vehicles travel through the atmosphere at incredibly high velocities, producing extreme thermal and aerodynamic conditions and nonlinear vehicle behavior. In order for future flight control systems to maintain stability through maneuvers, feedback sensors that are sensitive to vehicle state are necessary. Two key flow environments in the hypersonic flight envelope produce emissive species that may be leveraged to provide additional information to flight control systems: 1) the post-shock region on the external surface of a vehicle and 2) the combustion environment in an air-breathing vehicle's engine. This dissertation investigates the use of optical emission spectroscopy sensors for control of hypersonic vehicles.
Three key aspects of the use of optical emission spectroscopy sensors for hypersonic vehicle control are explored: design, optimization, and demonstration. Chapter 2 presents a custom, novel design of an optical emission spectroscopy sensor for application in a dual-mode scramjet that is sensitive to changes in engine conditions. Chapter 3 applies optimization techniques to investigate how the best combination of sensor locations and signals may be selected. Chapter 4 develops and demonstrates a computational framework that may be used to determine whether an optical emission spectroscopy sensor directed at the external flowfield is sensitive to changes in vehicle flight parameters. Chapter 5 demonstrates and improves the custom sensor's ability to control the shock-train leading edge location in a dual-mode scramjet. Chapter 6 compares the ability of the sensor to provide information to a control system to that of a traditional pressure sensor, and quantifies the difference in performance. Through this series of investigations, it was demonstrated that optical emission spectroscopy sensors are able to provide valuable information to practical control systems. Furthermore, while previous studies have considered the use of optical emission spectroscopy sensors for hypersonic vehicle control, this work develops and enhances the technology's viability for flight applications.
Chern, Max. Design of Optical Emission Spectroscopy Sensors for Hypersonic Vehicle Control. University of Virginia, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering - School of Engineering and Applied Science, PHD (Doctor of Philosophy), 2026-04-18, https://doi.org/10.18130/mmwn-gf73.
