Design and Construction of an Apparatus to Perform Schlieren Imaging
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Schlieren imaging is an optical technique used to observe fluid flow by observing changes in a fluid’s refractive index. These changes are manifested by viewing the refracted light that traverses the fluid flow. The technique was invented in 1864 by German physicist August Toepler. We will report on the design and construction of a homebuilt Schlieren imaging system that will be used in on-campus research to characterize supersonic air flow. The system will also be deployed in the Physics Advanced Teaching Lab to enable students to explore this technique. We will describe several design iterations that were tested to improve upon the conventional setup and discuss overall performance optimization of the optical system. Finally, we will present data showing visualizations of airflow under various environmental conditions.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Charles Sukenik, Sterling Gordon
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Physics
College Affiliation
College of Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster
Disciplines
Physics
Session Title
Poster Session
Location
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Start Date
3-30-2024 8:30 AM
End Date
3-30-2024 10:00 AM
Design and Construction of an Apparatus to Perform Schlieren Imaging
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Schlieren imaging is an optical technique used to observe fluid flow by observing changes in a fluid’s refractive index. These changes are manifested by viewing the refracted light that traverses the fluid flow. The technique was invented in 1864 by German physicist August Toepler. We will report on the design and construction of a homebuilt Schlieren imaging system that will be used in on-campus research to characterize supersonic air flow. The system will also be deployed in the Physics Advanced Teaching Lab to enable students to explore this technique. We will describe several design iterations that were tested to improve upon the conventional setup and discuss overall performance optimization of the optical system. Finally, we will present data showing visualizations of airflow under various environmental conditions.