Computer simulation of aero-optic phenomena based on empirical data

Development of an aero-optics simulation code is reviewed. When completed, the code will contain three elements, 1) an algorithm for producing physically plausible aero-optical properties and bounds on properties characterizing flows of interest, 2) an algorithm for converting these into aero-optical features of a flow described by a set of time varying, random, phase masks, and 3) a code that will integrate these and propagate a wavefront through a typical test scenario with an output similar to that provided by the test diagnostics. The resultant aero-optics computational simulator will allow an aerodynamicist to simulate and run aero-optical tests that will be useful for test planning and data interpretation. This paper reviews the approach taken by the author in modeling aero-optic phenomena and presents initial results based on a simplified model of a turbulent condition through which point source wavefront is propagated.