Visualization of submerged turbulent jets using particle tracking velocimetry

Abstract

Over the past few decades, advances have been made in using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) for mapping of Lagrangian velocity and acceleration flow fields. With PIV, Lagrangian trajectories are not measured directly; rather, hypothetical trajectories must be constructed from sequences of Eulerian velocity snapshots. Because PTV directly measures actual trajectories, it provides distinct advantages over PIV, especially for trajectories with abrupt changes in direction. In this work, a novel particle tracking algorithm is described, then applied to track trajectories of tracer particles in submerged turbulent jets. The Reynolds numbers ranged from 1000 to 25,000, thereby covering laminar, transitioning-to-turbulence, and fully turbulent flow regimes. The novel particle tracking algorithm is designed to handle flows with very high particle concentrations, thereby resolving small-scale flow structures. Trajectories are tracked with high velocity gradients, sharp curvatures, cycloids, abrupt changes in direction, and strong recirculation—all of which are inaccessible via construction from PIV sequences. Most trajectories measured in this work are at least 500 camera frames (time steps) long, with many being more than 3000 frames long.Graphic abstract