pressure-sensitive paint

pressure-sensitive paint

[‚presh·ər ‚sen·səd·iv ′pānt] (fluid mechanics) A flow visualization technique in which ultraviolet light is used to excite specific molecules in a special paint affixed to a test surface positioned in a wind tunnel flow. The resulting phosphorescence of these molecules indicates the amount of oxygen in contact with the paint and, thereby, the spatial distribution of surface pressure.