Stereoscopic Particle Shadow Velocimetry

Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) is a variant of particle image velocimetry (PIV) that allows for the measurement of three components of velocity along a plane in a flow field. In PIV, particles in the flow field are tracked by reflecting laser light from tracer particles into two angled cameras, allowing for the velocity field to be determined. Particle shadow velocimetry (PSV) is an inherently less expensive velocity measurement method since the method images shadows cast by particles from an LED backlight instead of scattered light from a laser. Previous studies have shown that PSV is an adequate substitute for PIV for many two-dimensional, two-component velocimetry measurements. In this work, the viability of the two-dimensional, three-component stereoscopic particle shadow velocimetry (SPSV) is demonstrated by using SPSV to examine a simple jet flow. Results obtained using SPIV are also used to provide benchmark comparison for SPSV measurements. Results show that in-plane and out-of-plane velocities measured using SPSV are comparable to those measured using SPIV.