Cross-spectral analysis of PSP images for estimation of surface pressure spectra corrupted by the shot noise

We proposed applying the cross-spectrum analysis to the unsteady pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) images to eliminate the electronic shot noise component from the pressure fluctuation spectrum. The data of surface pressure fluctuation behind a square cylinder which measured by means of the polymer/ceramic PSP with a frequency response of approximately 5 kHz which is sufficiently high for studying the Kármán vortex shedding was used for the validation of this analysis method. The cross spectrum is compared with the auto-spectrum of PSP images and that of the Kulite pressure transducer that corresponds to the reference signal. The cross spectrum can drastically reduce the electronic shot noise component in the pressure fluctuation spectrum. The second peak of vortex shedding which is not observed in the result of auto-spectrum can be observed thanks to the noise reduction. The convergence of calculation is faster as the size of the spatial area for calculating cross spectrum increases. Graphic abstract