Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Evaluation Of Photodiode Arrays For Use In Rocket Plume Monitoring And Diagnostics, Dallas Snider, M. Keith Hudson, Robert B. Shanks, Reagan Cole

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The spectroscopic analysis of plume emissions is a non-intrusive method which has been used to check for fatigue and possible damage throughout the pumps and other mechanisms in a rocket motor or engine. These components are made of various alloys. Knowing the composition of the alloys and for which parts they are used, one can potentially determine from the emissions in the plume which component is failing. Currently, Optical Multichannel Analyzer systems are being used which utilize charge coupled devices, cost tens of thousands of dollars, are somewhat delicate, and usually require cooling. We have developed two rugged instruments using …