In the present study, new performance evaluation parameters for pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) were proposed, and the effects of ambient pressure on the characteristics of the PSP were evaluated. The proposed parameters allow us to determine the optimal pressure range on the basis of the following quantities: (1) the Stern-Volmer coefficient, (2) the normalized pressure sensitivity to intensity changes due to flow-induced pressure fluctuations, (3) the change in the intensity of PSP emissions in response to the given change in pressure, and (4) the signal-to-noise ratio of the change in the PSP emission intensity due to flow-induced pressure fluctuations. The characteristics of several types of PSP were evaluated using the proposed parameters. It was demonstrated that the proposed parameters enable a comparison of the effects of ambient pressure on the characteristics of PSP, and the optimal pressure range for aerodynamic measurements could be successfully identified for the different PSP.

The effects of the oxygen mole fraction on the static properties of pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) were investigated. Sample coupon tests using a calibration chamber were conducted for poly(hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate)-based PSP (PHFIPM-PSP), polymer/ceramic PSP (PC-PSP), and anodized aluminum PSP (AA-PSP). The oxygen mole fraction was set to 0.1–100%, and the ambient pressure (Pref) was set to 0.5–140 kPa. Localized Stern–Volmer coefficient Blocal increased and then decreased with increasing oxygen mole fraction. Although Blocal depends on both ambient pressure and the oxygen mole fraction, its effect can be characterized as a function of the partial pressure of oxygen. For AA-PSP and PHFIPM-PSP, which are low-pressure- and relatively low-pressure-type PSPs, respectively, Blocal peaks at PO2ref<12 kPa. In contrast, for PC-PSP, which is an atmospheric-pressure-type PSP in the investigated range, Blocal does not have a peak. Blocal has a peak at a relatively high partial pressure of oxygen due to the oxygen permeability of the polymer used in the binder. The peak of SPR, which is the emission intensity change with respect to normalized pressure fluctuation, appears at a lower partial pressure of oxygen than that of Blocal. This is because the intensity of PSP becomes quite low at a high partial pressure of oxygen even if Blocal is high. Hence, the optimal oxygen mole fraction depends on the type of PSP and the ambient pressure range of the experiment. This optimal value can be found on the basis of the partial pressure of oxygen.