3-Component (3-C) 3-Dimensional (3-D) Particle Imagery Velocimetry (PIV)

Description:

While standard PIV techniques using a monochrome laser are able to provide information concerning velocity in 3-dimensions, these techniques are still restricted to studying particles along a single plane. However, in 3-C 3-D PIV, a beam of white light is projected through a prism, separating the light into its differing frequencies, and projected through a volume of water. A high-speed camera then differentiates the position of the particles within the illuminated volume of water, and a full 3-D analysis of flow velocity can be conducted.

Prototype for 3-C 3-D PIV Setup

The following images show a prototype of the 3-C 3-D PIV setup, from the perspective of the camera seen in the above picture on the left. To determine the displacement of the paricles, we use a newly developed 3-D cross correlation which breaks down the volume into small interrogation cubes. In this case, post-processing analysis would understand the red particles to be farther away, and the blue and violet particles to be closer.