Soot Particle Characterization
 A continuing area of CLA research has been the study of the interaction of
optical radiation with hydrocarbon soot microparticles that are found in the
exhausts of jet engines and various combustors. This decade-old research effort
has had the specific objective of developing a practical method for remote
optical measurement of the size distribution and mass that occurs in jet engine
exhausts. Research advances in this program have included the development of
laser scattering and broad-band extinction techniques to obtain the desired
characteristics of the soot particles. Further progress resulted from the use of
fractal models to represent the nonspherical soot particles.
 In the past year, direct-scattering calculations were performed of
fractal-fractal agglomerates to simulate realistic soot particles. Also, a Phase
I SBIR award resulted from the collaborative proposal of ERC, Inc., and UTSI/CLA.
During the accomplishment of this contract, CLA performed particulate
distribution measurements on the exhaust of a Sabre Liner jet engine. The UTSI aircraft
was located at the Tullahoma Airport, and measurements were made by the use of a
laser beam traversing the exhaust of the aircraft. The success of this effort resulted in the submission of a
Phase II SBIR proposal to the Navy sponsor.
Investigators: Dr. J.W.L. Lewis and Mr. J.D. Few
Sponsor: U.S. Navy
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