Triple-pulse Particle Image Velocimeter for the Simultaneous Measurement of the Velocity and Acceleration Fields of Fluid and Flexible Structure undergoing Coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction Navy STTR FY2012.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2012.A Topic No.: N12A-T011 Topic Title: Triple-pulse Particle Image Velocimeter for the Simultaneous Measurement of the Velocity and Acceleration Fields of Fluid and Flexible Structure undergoing Coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction Proposal No.: N12A-011-0283 Firm: Spectral Energies, LLC 5100 Springfield Street Suite 301 Dayton, Ohio 45431 Contact: Sivaram Gogineni Phone: (937) 266-9570 Web Site: www.spectralenergies.com Abstract: An advanced optical instrument is proposed with the capabilities of distinguishing between fluid and solid components of an image and measuring the velocity field and acceleration field of each. The design is based on the well known and robustly practiced principles of particle image velocimetry, but by introducing a third light pulse it produces a fundamental innovation that both enables the measurement of acceleration fields and improves the accuracy and spatial resolution of the velocity measurement. A prototype instrument will be constructed and tested in two flows fields having steady and unsteady accelerations using software that will be written as part of the development. The PIV interrogation analysis will implement a third order correlation method that has been shown to yield order of magnitude performance improvements over second order correlation, the long standing standard of PIV. The system is amenable to realization is a low cost design that eliminates lasers and expensive PIV cameras. Phase I development will demonstrate feasibility of image segmentation, triple pulse imaging, third order correlation and implementation of the software. Benefits: The successful implementation of the proposed STTR research will help develop a low-cost, non-invasive instrumentation for simultaneous measurement of time-resolved fluid and structural velocity and acceleration fields that occur in a coupled fluid structure interactions which are associated with marine vehicles. The prototype developed at the end of Phase II will have the capability to use in large scale facilities such as towing tanks, water and wind tunnels; mounting to test vehicle; and synchronizing with other measurement acquisition devices. If successful, it is expected that the proposed technology will provide excellent benefits for marine vehicle designers in both the commercial and military sectors and will be generally useful as a research and engineering tool. Significant benefits will also be gained over a wide variety of marine and medical device applications. The low-cost products developed under this program will also aid the research in academic and government research labs. Return