Two-dimensional measurement of density, velocity, and temperature in turbulent high-speed air flows by UV rayleigh scattering

Abstract

Instantaneous cross-sectional images of turbulent air flows with densities on the order of one atmosphere or less can be obtained in a straightforward manner using far ultraviolet Rayleigh scattering. These images give quantitative values for the air density and show the details of turbulent structure, shock structure, and shock wave/boundary layer interactions. Two-dimensional spatial correlations taken from multiple images give the shape and extent of average turbulent structure as well as the coupling between turbulent structure and other flow features. This technique may be extended to observe velocity fields by either double pulsing the illumination source or by using a narrow linewidth atomic or molecular filter window in front of the detector array. The latter approach also yields temperature. Used in conjunction with flow marking techniques such as RELIEF, coupling between turbulent structure and velocity fluctuations can also be determined. These diagnostic techniques can be extended to combusting flows to observe instantaneous structure, mixing, flame front location, and velocity fields.