Application of Particle Image Velocimetry- Theory and Practice

Abstract

For investigations of fflow fields with pronounced spatial structures and/or rapid temporal or spatial changes (transition from laminar to turbulent flow, coherent structures, pitching airfoils in transonic flows with shocks, short time test facilities etc.) new experimental techniques, such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) are required which allow to capture large flow velocity fields instantaneously. An imprtant feature of PIV is, that for the first time a reliable basis of experimental flow field data is provided for direct comparison with numerical calculations and, hence, for validation of computer codes. During the last years an increasing number of scientists has started to utilize the PIV technique to investigate the instantaneous structure of velocity fields in various areasof fluid mechanics. A number of different approaches for the recording and evaluation of PIV images has been described in literature.