For an effective Doppler Global Velocimeter (DGV), there is a requirement to accurately record and tune the frequency content of the laser used. The laser used for this experiment was an ND:YAG. Adjusting the mean frequency of the ND:YAG is accomplished by controlling the seed laser diode output, which also narrows the bandwidth of the laser to below 20 MHz. The exact frequency of operation is critical for the operation of the system. Standard interferometry techniques that measure laser frequency content, such as Fabre-Perot and grating based systems, are not able to provide an adequate spectrum resolution for the 9 ns pulse duration of the ND:YAG laser. A method was developed that employs a CCD line camera and a laser reference cell to effectively and cost efficiently solve this problem. The hardware and software for this real time monitoring system were developed and used with a real time feedback loop to stabilize the laser operating frequency at a specified value. The receiving optics of this DGV system were upgraded with 12 bit CCD cameras and a temperature controlled laser reference cell to decrease the uncertainty to the velocity measurement from over 4 m/s to less than 1 m/s. Recommendations to the effectiveness of the system and future improvements are provided.

The development of a Doppler Global Veocimetry (DGV) system is described. An argon ion laser has been modified to suit the requirements of DGV. An etalon with high precision tilting control has been mounted in the laser cavity. The backward mirror of the laser cavity has been mounted on a piezotranslator for controlling the laser cavity length. Two iodine cells have been designed and manufactured: one with a bead of iodine in the cell volume, the other with a limited amount of iodine. The iodine absorption line of both cells has been calibrated with good repeatibility. The laser has been stabilized in frequency, so that operations during a measurement session in the lab are simplified. The capabilities of DGV measurements have been tested in two jets, at low and at high speeds. Velocity fluctuations of the jet could be followed, in spite of the highly noisy signals. The first steps towards three velocity component measurements with a single camera in a difficult environment such as the geometry of a turbomchinery cascade have been made. Imaging two views of a target on the same camera sensor is discussed, along with the spatial and luminosity calibration required.

Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) / This thesis describes the development of the two-frequency Planar Doppler Velocimetry (2n-PDV) flow measurement technique. This is modification of the Planar Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) technique that allows the measurement of up to three components of the flow velocity across a plane defined by a laser light sheet. The 2n-PDV technique reduces the number of components required to a single CCD camera and iodine cell from the two CCDs in conventional PDV. This removes the error sources associated with the misalignment of the two camera images and polarisation effects due to the beam splitters used in conventional PDV. The construction of a single velocity component 2n-PDV system is described and measurements made on the velocity field of a rotating disc and an axisymmetric air jet. The system was then modified to make 3D velocity measurements using coherent imaging fibre bundles to port multiple views to a single detector head. A method of approximately doubling the sensitivity of the technique was demonstrated using the measurements made on the velocity field of the rotating disc and was shown to reduce the error level in the final orthogonal velocity components by ~40 to 50%. Error levels of between 1.5ms-1 and 3.1ms-1 depending upon observation direction are demonstrated for a velocity field of ±34ms-1. The factors that will influence the selection of a viewing configuration when making 3D PDV measurements are then investigated with the aid of a computer model. The influence of the observation direction, the magnitude of the flow velocity, and the transformation to orthogonal velocity components are discussed. A new method using additional data in this transformation is presented and experimental results calculated using four-measured velocity components are compared to those found conventionally, using only three components. The inclusion of additional data is shown to reduce the final error levels by up to 25%.

Durch die enge Verknüpfung von Konstruktion, Berechnung und Versuch in Verbindung mit einem mathematischen Ersatzmodell ist es möglich den optimalen Einlasskanal für einen bestimmten Zylinderkopf zu entwerfen.

This thesis describes the development of the two-frequency Planar Doppler Velocimetry (2n-PDV) flow measurement technique. This is modification of the Planar Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) technique that allows the measurement of up to three components of the flow velocity across a plane defined by a laser light sheet. The 2n-PDV technique reduces the number of components required to a single CCD camera and iodine cell from the two CCDs in conventional PDV. This removes the error sources associated with the misalignment of the two camera images and polarisation effects due to the beam splitters used in conventional PDV. The construction of a single velocity component 2n-PDV system is described and measurements made on the velocity field of a rotating disc and an axisymmetric air jet. The system was then modified to make 3D velocity measurements using coherent imaging fibre bundles to port multiple views to a single detector head. A method of approximately doubling the sensitivity of the technique was demonstrated using the measurements made on the velocity field of the rotating disc and was shown to reduce the error level in the final orthogonal velocity components by ~40 to 50%. Error levels of between 1.5ms-1 and 3.1ms-1 depending upon observation direction are demonstrated for a velocity field of ±34ms-1. The factors that will influence the selection of a viewing configuration when making 3D PDV measurements are then investigated with the aid of a computer model. The influence of the observation direction, the magnitude of the flow velocity, and the transformation to orthogonal velocity components are discussed. A new method using additional data in this transformation is presented and experimental results calculated using four-measured velocity components are compared to those found conventionally, using only three components. The inclusion of additional data is shown to reduce the final error levels by up to 25%.

A new laser based flow interrogation system, capable of simultaneous measurement of planar three-component velocity data, was constructed and tested. The Virginia Tech Doppler Global Velocimeter (DGV) system was designed for use in the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel as a tool for investigating complex three-dimensional separated flow regions. The systems was designed for robustness, ease of use, and for acquisition of low uncertainty velocity data. A series of tests in the Stability Tunnel were conducted to determine the how well the new DGV system met these goals. Extensive calibration tests proved the system is capable of measuring the frequency shifts of scattered laser light, and therefore velocity. However, equipment failures and inadequate flow seed density prevented accurate velocity measurements in the separated wake region behind a 6:1 prolate spheroid. Detailed uncertainty analysis techniques demonstrated that, under the proper conditions, the system is capable of making velocity measurements with approximately +/- 2m/s uncertainty. / Master of Science

Durch die enge Verknüpfung von Konstruktion, Berechnung und Versuch in Verbindung mit einem mathematischen Ersatzmodell ist es möglich den optimalen Einlasskanal für einen bestimmten Zylinderkopf zu entwerfen.

Repairs and modifications were made to a flow velocity measurement system designed to measure a planar area of unsteady three component velocities in a single realization using a velocity measurement technique referred to as Doppler Global Velocimetry (DGV). Several hardware components in the system were modified and new hardware was added. Significant improvements were made to the procedures used in acquiring DGV data as well as the procedures used in reducing the acquired DGV data. Though hardware problems were encountered, successful iodine cell calibrations were acquired and attempts were made to acquire DGV velocity data from a calibration wheel and in the wake of a 6:1 prolate spheroid. These attempts were hampered by poor performance of the Nd:YAG laser and one of the digital cameras used in this research. While the magnitudes of the velocities acquired from the calibration wheel were noticeably higher than those calculated from the angular velocity and large fluctuations were present in these reduced velocities, the general trends measured by the VT DGV system matched those calculated from the angular velocity. The attempt to acquire flow field data in the wake of a 6:1 prolate spheroid model was unsuccessful due to insufficient seed particle density in the area where data were to be obtained. The results of this research indicate that while significant improvements have been made to the system, there are still some significant problems to overcome. / Master of Science

The development of a Doppler Global Veocimetry (DGV) system is described. An argon ion laser has been modified to suit the requirements of DGV. An etalon with high precision tilting control has been mounted in the laser cavity. The backward mirror of the laser cavity has been mounted on a piezotranslator for controlling the laser cavity length. Two iodine cells have been designed and manufactured: one with a bead of iodine in the cell volume, the other with a limited amount of iodine. The iodine absorption line of both cells has been calibrated with good repeatibility. The laser has been stabilized in frequency, so that operations during a measurement session in the lab are simplified. The capabilities of DGV measurements have been tested in two jets, at low and at high speeds. Velocity fluctuations of the jet could be followed, in spite of the highly noisy signals. The first steps towards three velocity component measurements with a single camera in a difficult environment such as the geometry of a turbomchinery cascade have been made. Imaging two views of a target on the same camera sensor is discussed, along with the spatial and luminosity calibration required. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished