Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Properly characterizing fluid flows requires accurate velocity measurements over the full flow field. A better understanding of the physics of the flow field is gained when we have simultaneous information about the flow at many points in space. Rapid advances in computing and digital imaging have facilitated the development of the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurement technique. To perform PIV, a flow is seeded with tiny particles (like smoke or mist) and illuminated using a powerful laser. Then, two successive images of the flow are captured using high speed cameras and compared using complex particle tracking algorithms. The end result is a full array of velocity vectors throughout the flow field.*UNB currently has a LaVision stereoscopic PIV system that is in good working order but the laser that illuminates the flow is old and no longer working properly. The manufacturer of our laser has been sold and are no longer making PIV lasers. Given that the cost of repairing the current laser is comparable to the cost of buying a new laser and given that some components of the laser are no longer being made, we believe that the best way forward is to purchase a new replacement laser so that we can again perform PIV. Thus, we are requesting funds for a replacement laser of comparable power to the old laser. The replacement laser has a shockproof design that does not require regular beam alignment; this means that the laser is safer to use than the current laser as the optical chamber of the laser does not need to be regularly opened. The shockproof design is particular suited for our research on accelerating flows. *