A New Particle Image Velocimetry Technique

 

            Stereo and orthogonal views of a particle-seeded flow were simultaneously recorded using a CCD camera. A two-stage calibration algorithm was developed to determine the optical coefficients of each view separately. The images were digitally enhanced and algorithms developed to match individual particles in the stereo and orthogonal views. A three-dimensional cross-correlation algorithm was then used to follow the particles from frame to frame and calculate the velocity vectors. A Ph.D. student by the name of Satya Kurada obtained his degree based on this work. The knowledge gained in this project provided an excellent background for the optical measurement investigations currently being conducted in our laboratory.

 

Preliminary Pressure Sensitive Paint Study

 

             Pressure sensitive paints are luminescent surface coatings that are used to determine the pressure distribution across the surface. The coating is illuminated with light of an appropriate wavelength and the luminescence captured within a wavelength band using a filter and CCD camera. The intensity that is emitted as well as the luminescence decay rate are related to the partial pressure of oxygen of the gas that is in contact with the surface, which is proportional to the fluid pressure. Many luminescent materials (luminophores) and binders have been reported in the literature along with a number of techniques to extract the fluid pressure information. The advantage of this technique is the ability to determine continuous pressure distributions on surfaces. A disadvantage is that the technique is temperature sensitive and clever techniques have been developed to eliminate or reduce this effect. Non-uniformity of the paint and illumination are eliminated by a simple ratio of the  wind-on” and  “wind-off” conditions.

            An extensive survey of the literature in this field has been completed. In addition, we have been successful in demonstrating the technique in our laboratory using Pt(II) meso-tetra(Pentafluorophenyl)porphine as the  luminophore, suspended in a silicone resin binder (Genesee Polymer Corp GP-197). A white light source and blue filter were used for illumination while a red filter and a CCD camera were used for recording the image. The flow field consisted of a simple air jet directed onto a painted flat surface.

            The work described here is the background for future projects involving pressure sensitive paint.

 

Talbot Effect Applied to the Measurement of Turbulence

 

            This project is a collaborative effort with Dr. O. Penyazkov of the A.V. Luikov Heat and Mass Transfer Institute in Minsk, Belarus. Modification of speckle photography using the Talbot effect is proposed to increase the sensitivity and accuracy of the speckle technique. The idea of applying the Talbot Effect to improve sensitivity and accuracy of the speckle technique is that of Dr. Penyazkov. Funding has been awarded by the Belorussian Foundation for Fundamental Research to support the research effort within the laboratory of Dr. Penyazkov.       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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