AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Optical Techniques for Flow

Visualization
Shadowgraph
Schlieren
Interferometer

2 2
2
2
x
y

gradients perpendicular to knife edge

y

All depend of the fact that the speed of light and therefore the
index of refraction varies with the density.
The index of refraction is approximately

( ) 1
ref
.000292 for air
Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Shadowgraph
Shocks appear as
a dark line followed
by a light line

Point
Source
of light

deflection

Flow
Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Viewing
Screen

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Shadowgraph

Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Schlieren Optics
c

Light
Source

Test
Section
Knife
edge

Image

Mask
(knife edge)

Displaced
Image

Image
of
source

Image
of
Test
Section

Knife edge intercepts part of source image

Density gradient causes displacement
of source image
Color Schlieren uses a color in
place of knife edge

Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Z-folded Schlieren Using Mirrors

Camera
Knife
edge

Test Section
Light
Source
Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Color Schlieren
Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Schlieren for Flight Test

Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Mach-Zender Interferometer
Light
Source

Beamsplitter
Mirror

Mirror
Beamsplitter

Test Section
Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Image

AAE 520 Experimental Aerodynamics

Purdue University - School of Aeronautics and Astronautics