Application of BOS velocimetry to full-scale helicopter flight tests

Abstract Time-resolved background-oriented schlieren (BOS) data are used to calculate the two-dimensional velocity field in the wake of free-flying full-scale helicopters in ground effect. The calculation is performed based on the density gradient pattern of the helicopter engine exhaust gas passing the BOS field of view. A classical BOS evaluation allows the visualization of density gradients such as vortices and the exhaust plume. The result is the BOS displacement field. Applying the two-dimensional divergence to these data results in a pattern that is constant in shape across multiple BOS images, but convects downstream with the outwash velocity of the helicopter. Quantitative two-dimensional velocity fields are calculated using the divergence of the BOS shift as input to a second, time-resolved evaluation. Choosing an appropriate strategy for preparing and evaluating the data is critical to a reliable velocity estimation. Another important aspect is to distinguish between reliable velocity data and erroneous results in areas of reduced signal intensity due to a lack of thermal structures. The velocity data obtained are compared with an analytical outwash model and constant temperature anemometry data acquired simultaneously with the BOS images. The data show good quantitative agreement in areas of sufficient thermal structures within the field of view. This demonstrates the feasibility of BOS velocimetry to investigate large flow fields in full-scale helicopter flight tests.