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The Effect Of Particle Dynamics On Turbulence Measurements With The Laser Doppler Velocimeter, Robert H. Nichols

Doctoral Dissertations

The laser velocimeter (LV) is currently being used by many researchers to nonintrusively obtain velocity data in complex flow fields. The LV measures the velocity of small particles entrained in the flow field of interest. The fluid velocity and turbulent velocity correlations are then inferred from statistical analysis of these particle velocity measurements under the assumption that the particles exactly reproduce the motion of the fluid. This assumption needs careful evaluation since it is fundamental to the application of the LV.

The particle equation of motion was carefully analyzed to determine what form is required for evaluating the turbulence response …