Accurate knowledge of skin friction is critical in assessing the energy efficiency and controllability of hypersonic weapon systems. At the most fundamental level, drag must be overcome to achieve forward motion and maneuverability. Skin friction will drive the state of the boundary layer and regions of separated flow which dictates the effectiveness of control surfaces, thermal protection systems, and engine operation. Ahmic proposes to develop a versatile skin friction gauge capable of advancing hypersonic test capabilities and providing more effective decision-making data for next-generation vehicles and propulsion systems. The proposed gauge solution will be universal in design while capable of meeting a broad range of flight vehicle and test facility requirements. This will greatly reduce the cost of entry, help standardize skin friction measurement techniques, make a valuable tool widely available to the hypersonic community, and ultimately transform the way aerospace test data is collected. In Phase I, the technology from our non-defense commercial solutions will be adapted to meet the needs of the defense end-user. The defense end-user who would benefit the most from our proposed versatile skin friction gauge are research scientists, technologists, weapon system engineers, program managers, and wind tunnel test facilities.
