Particle Image Velocimetry

Abstract : Report developed under SBIR contract. A two-color particle imaging velocimetry system was demonstrated for obtaining two-dimensional velocity measurements in a subsonic reacting flow and in a supersonic flowfield. Data was obtained using three different camera systems, an 8-mm video camera, a digital color CCD camera system and a 35-mm camera. The data obtained from the wall boundary layer region in the supersonic wind tunnel showed good correlation with LDV data. The flow in the wake region of the flame holder was investigated using the PIV system developed. The results obtained through these experiments showed that the PIV system was capable of resolving the flow information in the highly turbulent region with a high degree of accuracy. Values of shear layer stresses behind the bluff body region were also calculated from the PIV data. Reacting flow experiments showed the ability of the PIV system to resolve velocity fields in a highly turbulent, large gradient flow regime. The software yielded RMS fluctuations in the 1.5% range which is less than the 3% limit widely reported in the literature. Taitech, Inc. is currently commercializing the PIV system developed in this contract.