Optimization of particle image velocimeters

An analytical model and a computational simulation of a double-pulsed planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) system are used here to optimize the performance of PIV for a full 2D interrogation by either spatial correlation or Young''s fringes. The similarity between correlation methods and full 2D Fourier transform methods is outlined, and differences between the optimal parameters for each method are explained. The mean properties of the spatial autocorrelation function and the Fourier transform of the Young''s fringes are developed both theoretically and using analytical models based on experimental results.