Flow field measurements

In our working group we have numerous experimental methods at our disposal, which we apply to understand details of the flow fields. A special focus is the application of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), as this can provide spatially resolved and quantitative velocity fields, including the statistical properties of turbulence. But also more qualitative visualization methods, for example oil flow or tuft visualizations, often provide very valuable information about the behavior of the flow.

 

Impression of a flow field measurement approach with PIV, seen here form inside the wind tunnel. The green illumination is the laser light sheet. The camera on the left is actually outside the wind tunnel.
Analysis of the flow around a ram air outlet (RAO). The model is made of plexiglass and optical flow field measurements (PIV) were used to measure the specific phenomena of the flow in such an outlet in numerous sections.
Oil-flow visualization of a 1:4 model-scale road vehicle, zoomed into the region of the left front tire. The model is installed in the wind tunnel MUB. In this case the wheels do not rotate.

Selected References

SCHNORR, E., SCHOLZ, P., RADESPIEL, R. A method to quantify the supersonic discharge of airbag cold gas inflators. Experiments in Fluids 63, 177 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-022-03521-7 (OpenAccess)

BREITENSTEIN, W., SCHOLZ, P., RADESPIEL, R., KNOPP, T., STRELETS, M., SHUR, M., A Wind Tunnel Experiment for Symmetric Wakes in Adverse Pressure Gradient, AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (SciTech), 7.-11. Jan 2019, San Diego, USA, 2019

SCHOLZ, P., FOHLMEISTER, L. Measurement Of Boundary Layer Properties Downstream Of A Transition Trip, 17th International Symposium on Application of Laser and Imaging Techniques to Fluid Mechanics, 16.-19. July 2018, Lisbon, Portugal

ROCHLITZ, H., SCHOLZ, P., FUCHS, T., The flow field in a high aspect ratio cooling duct without and with one heated wall, Experiments in Fluids, Vol. 56, No. 12, S. 1-13, 2015, doi: 10.1007/s00348-015-2071-y