Terahertz Thermal Imager

ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for real-time measurement of aircraft tire tread crown temperature to generate temperature profiles (tread surface to inner liner) of an aircraft"radial"tire under dynamic loading conditions, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Terahertz Thermal Imager (TTI). It is based on the capability of terahertz irradiation to penetrate rubber, and the thermal dependence of terahertz irradiation/absorption defined by blackbody models in the terahertz spectral range for temperatures from 32F to>200F. This new use of a terahertz source for remote thermal measurement, and a new system design integrating a dual-wavelength terahertz source with a synchronized terahertz imaging detector, will enable the TTI to measure, in real time and in noncontact mode, the thermal profile in the tread crown of a rotating dynamically loaded tire. Therefore this system offers the Air Force an innovative instrument, improving safety-of-flight predictions and evaluation of aircraft tire performance. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of a TTI system prototype in laboratory experiments on a tire tread crown model. In Phase II, POC plans to develop and demonstrate a full-scale prototype measurement device that will be integrated with an existing internal drum dynamometer. BENEFIT: Immediate benefits from the TTI system will be received by the Air Force landing gear testing facilities as well as Army and Navy aviation directorates and commands for noncontact testing of the performance of aircraft landing tires to enhance landing safety and make better predictions in future tire design. In addition, testing facilities for military ground vehicle tires will benefit from implementation of the proposed TTI system. The TTI technology also has wide applicability in commercial markets, especially in the tire manufacturing industry. Such tire OEMs as Goodyear, Michelin, and Goodrich would be potential customers for the TTI system technology.