Quartz Obstacle
As part of a novel of a planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) study, an ultraviolet transmissive material was required for an obstacle to place in the combustion channel. Quartz glass was chosen for the incident laser sheet to penetrate the obstacle. Typical obstacles used in this experiment are aluminum, with threaded holes to secure then inside the channel. This was not possible for the quartz obstacle so a method of epoxied threaded rods, counter boring of the mounting plate, and machining custom 3/16” thick nuts were utilized. This method was able to secure the obstacle for the duration of the experimental program. Unfortunately, the obstacle was destroyed in a subsequent series of tests when a test mixture prematurely detonated in the shock tube after the optical module was moved.