Development and Testing of the Virginia Tech Doppler Global Velocimeter

Abstract

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.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA395744

Entities

People

  • Roger L. Simpson
  • Troy B. Jones

Organizations

  • Virginia Tech

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cameras
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Data Processing
  • Doppler Effect
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • Frequency Shift
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Image Processing
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Operating Systems
  • Photographs
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy