Equipment for Rapid Whole-Field Velocity and Density Capture in Rotor Flows
Abstract
The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) is designed to improve the capabilities of U.S. Universities to conduct research and to educate scientists and engineers in selected technical areas of importance to national defense. DURIP funding provides for the acquisition of research equipment and instrumentation for this purpose. This proposal is for the purchase of a high-rate digital particle image velocimetry system and a set of plenoptic cameras for 3D whole field density measurements. The P.I., Professor Narayanan Komerath, of the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, working at the School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, will use the equipment to augment and enhance research capabilities in the area of fluid dynamics of rotorcraft flows. If the velocity and density fields can be captured and resolved accurately in space and time, the aerodynamics of vehicles with complex interactions can be calculated with certainty. With new vehicles using large co-axial rotors and small quad rotors, flow field interactions are critical to understand at all size scales. The proposed suite of equipment is to exploit recent breakthroughs in understanding flows relevant to high-speed rotorcraft and UAV problems, and generally to the science of vortical and rotating flows. It consists of two subsystems. The first is a high-rate laser and fast, high-resolution camera for 2D Particle Image Velocimetry with adequate spatial and temporal resolution, for a foray into turbulence. The second is a cost-efficient set of Plenoptic cameras to explore the capture of whole-field density and multidimensional velocity fields, combining essential features from Particle Tracing Velocimetry, Photogrammetry, and Tomography. With these we believe that we can demonstrate whole-field velocity, pressure (from laws-of-physics numerical solution) and density capture in periodic but turbulent, vortical flows of relevant Reynolds and Mach numbers. Plenoptic cameras combine high depth of field with high-resolution post-processing of individual planes. With a high-rate laser illuminating a volume or several thin sheets during the same camera exposure, the plenoptic camera can be used to perform volume velocimetry. With two such cameras, the complex rotor wake geometry in forward flight can be captured and combined using photogrammetry. The rationale for two inexpensive plenoptic cameras rather than a high-resolution stereo PIV camera set or high-resolution plenoptic video camera is explained. The context is set by the state of the art in flow measurements, and by the educational benefits permitted by our strong and continuing record of graduate and undergraduate research team participation and publication.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 14, 2016
- Source ID
- W911NF1510467
Entities
People
- Narayanan Komerath
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- United States Army