Fiber Optics Based Jet Engine Augmenter Viewing System

An augmenter viewing system employing a coherent fiber-optic array was developed for use in jet engine testing applications at AEDC. Real-time viewing of the test article afterburner was obtained in a severe environment under high temperature and vibration levels. The optical system consisted of a conventional front-end lens assembly coupled with the fiber-optic array, and a solid-state color video camera mounted inside the test cell. The advantages and problems associated with a fiber-optics-based viewing system will be discussed in comparison with more conventional viewing techniques for this application.