Introduction

Abstract

AbstractThe ultrasonic Doppler velocity profiler (UVP) method is now an accepted and established tool in modern experimental fluid mechanics and fluid engineering. I presented my first set of results illustrating the versatility and power of UVP at the conference in 1985 [Takeda, Velocity profile measurement by ultrasound Doppler shift method. In: Harada M, Pergamon (eds) Fluid control and measurement, FLUCOME TOKYO ’85, Tokyo, 1985, p 851]. The span of almost two decades from introduction to acceptance is remarkably in accord with the remarks made by Leibovich (Annu Rev Fluid Mech 35, 2003) on the time it takes for novel theoretical ideas to gain acceptance in fluid mechanics. In the 1985 conference I presented the results of UVP measurement in several flow configurations and emphasized the importance of this development because it is a line measurement and different from point measurement. In the meeting I recall discussing the future of flow measurement with R.J. Adrian, who admitted that line or areal measurement of flow field is important. [Adrian extended the laser speckle method to a development of PTV/PIV, which is also a key technology of current flow measurements (Exp Fluids 39:159–169, 2005).]In this review I give a brief history of the development of the ultrasonic Doppler velocity profiler (UVP) and describe several examples of its diversity and use in fluid mechanics and engineering.KeywordsVelocity ProfileParticle Image VelocimetryMagnetic FluidPipe FlowLaser Doppler AnemometryThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.