Optical Tools for Aerodynamics

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Meier, G.E.A.

Affiliations: DLR-Institute of Fluid Mechanics, 37073 Göttingen, Germany

Abstract: Visualization of flows has a special meaning in aerodynamics. Unsteady three dimensional flow fields need a visual display of experimental as well as theoretical results. Especially in experiments optical visualization techniques often lead to completely new insights into flow phenomena. Some discoveries which have been made this way are described in this review. Topics considered in detail are vortex obstacle interaction, Particle Image Velocimetry, long range Laser Doppler Velocimetry and Pressure Sensitive Paint.

Keywords: aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, optical tools, Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP), Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV)

Journal: Journal of Visualization, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 51-58, 1999