Results from Wind Tunnel and Artificial Rainfall Tests of the Modified Scan Sensor.

摘要

Under contract for the Office of Naval Research, Calspan Corporation has been conducting an operational research investigation into the feasibility of utilizing the Surface Condition Analyzer (SCAN) system as an indicator of airport runway conditions. Specifically these efforts were: (1) to determine the ability of the SCAN System to measure runway water depth and (2) to assess the utility of such measurements in reducing aircraft hydroplaning related problems at Naval airfields. The original sensors relied on a measure of the capacitance and conductivity of the water to which the water depth could be related. During field testing, it was determined that this approach was unsatisfactory in contaminated runway environments. In response to these findings, SSI devised a new sensor based on sonic principles, and in January 1983, prototypes of the new sensor were evaluated under wind and simulated rainfall test conditions in Calspan's Atmospheric Simulation Facility (ASF). This report briefly describes: the operation of the new device, the test facility, and the experiments. Data are presented to demonstrate the operation and performance of the SCAN sensor. Finally, conclusions regarding the potential utilization of a SCAN system to measure water depth in runway environments are given and recommendations for further evaluations are provided.