ENGINEERING MAJOR
FOR COLLEGE:
density
varitation
Techniques
Group 4 Presentation
Group 4
members:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0
0 Intoduction to Density Principle of Optical
2
variations. Instruments.
1
0
0 Deflection of Light in Schlieren Apparatus.
4
flow fields.
3
0 Shadowgraph
0 Interferometer.
5 6
Technique.
01
Intoductio
n to
density
variations
INTROD
UCTION
Density variation techniques are essential tools in the study of
compressible fluid flow, particularly in gases. In such flows, the
density of the medium changes with time and space, directly
influencing properties like pressure, temperature, and velocity.
Understanding these variations is critical for analyzing and
optimizing fluid dynamics in applications such as aerodynamics,
combustion, and gas transport systems.
The optical methods used to study density variations rely on the
principle that changes in density affect the refractive index of
the medium. This leads to measurable deflections or distortions
in light rays passing through the flow field. By capturing and
analyzing these optical effects, researchers can gain qualitative
and quantitative insights into the flow behavior without
introducing intrusive probes into the system
major college courses
The optical methods used to study
density variations rely on the principle
that changes in density affect the
refractive index of the medium. This
leads to measurable deflections or
distortions in light rays passing
through the flow field. By capturing
and analyzing these optical effects,
researchers can gain qualitative and
quantitative insights into the flow
behavior without introducing intrusive
probes into the system.
02
Principle
of
Optical
Instrume
nts
Principle of optical
instruments
Shadowgr interfero
Schlieren aph meter
Principle of optical
instruments
Optical instruments like Schlieren, Shadowgraph, and Interferometer are based
on the principle that the refractive index of a medium varies with fluid
density.
Gladstone-Dale Equation:
n−1=Kpn - 1 = Kp, where n is the refractive index, p is the density, and K is
a constant for the gas.
In compressible flows, density and refractive index change with time and
location, making these instruments essential for studying such variations.
03
Deflectio
n of
Light in
Flow
Fields
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
When light passes through a compressible flow
field: Variations in density alter the refractive
index, causing light to bend at an angle (δθ).
This deflection is proportional to density
gradients, which can be measured using optical
systems.
Deflection of light in flow
fields
Schlieren shadowgr
system aph
interferome
ter
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
The three primary techniques for studying density
variations include:
Schlieren System – Sensitive to the first derivative
of density, this method visualizes gradients in
density across the flow field.
Shadowgraph – Highlights changes in the second
derivative of density, offering a broader view of
density variation patterns.
Interferometer – Provides precise, quantitative
measurements of density changes by analyzing
interference patterns of light.
04
Schliere
n
apparatu
s
Schlieren
System
Schlieren
System
Schlieren
System
Schlieren
System
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
The Schlieren apparatus is a powerful optical tool
used to visualize density gradients in compressible
fluid flows.
It works on the principle that variations in density
cause changes in the refractive index of the
medium, which in turn deflects light rays passing
through the flow field.
The Schlieren technique visualizes density gradients
in compressible flow by exploiting light refraction.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
A light source,
Condensing lenses,
A slit to control light,
Parallel beam-forming lenses,
A knife edge, and
A screen for image display.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
Working Principle:
Light passing through the test section refracts due to density
gradients.
A knife edge blocks part of the refracted light, creating
brightness variations on the screen proportional to the density
gradient.
Brightness is enhanced by adjusting the knife edge position to
allow higher sensitivity.
Variations:
Parabolic Mirrors (Toepfer System):
Used instead of lenses for creating parallel light beams.
Provides higher accuracy in applications like shock wave
05
Shadowg
raph
techniqu
e
shadowgr
aph
shadowgr
aph
shadowgr
aph
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
The shadowgraph technique is a method used in
compressible fluid dynamics to visualize density
gradients in a flow field.
It is particularly useful in scenarios where the
refractive index of the medium varies gradually,
causing light rays to bend (refraction). These
variations are often caused by changes in density
due to compressibility effects in fluids.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
Principle
The shadowgraph technique is based on the principle that
variations in the refractive index of a medium affect the path
of light rays passing through it. These variations, in turn, are
proportional to the second derivative of the density in the flow
field with respect to the spatial coordinates.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
When light rays pass through a region of varying density:
The refractive index changes.
The light rays bend, creating a pattern of bright and dark regions on a
screen or photographic plate.
The shadowgraph reveals regions of high- and low-density gradients as
shadows.
The key difference between this and other optical methods (like
Schlieren) is that the shadowgraph captures the second derivative
of the density, while Schlieren captures the first derivative.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
Setup
A typical shadowgraph setup includes:
Light Source: Provides a uniform beam of light.
Test Section: The flow field with varying density, such as a shock wave or a
boundary layer.
Screen or Recording Device: Captures the shadow patterns created by density
gradients in the test section.
The simplicity of the shadowgraph setup makes it ideal for qualitative studies of
flows.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
Applications
The shadowgraph technique is widely used in:
Shock Wave Studies: Visualizing strong shock waves in high-speed flows.
Explosive and Combustion Research: Observing density variations due to temperature
and pressure changes.
Boundary Layer Visualization: Capturing flow separation or turbulence.
Supersonic and Hypersonic Flows: Visualizing Mach waves and other flow phenomena.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
Advantages
Simple and inexpensive setup.
Provides a qualitative understanding of compressible flows.
Effective for capturing large density variations, such as those caused by shock
waves.
Limitations
Captures only the second derivative of density, making quantitative analysis
difficult.
Limited sensitivity to small density changes.
Not suitable for precise measurements, as it lacks the ability to determine exact
density values.
06
interfero
meter
interferom
interfero
meter
interferom
eter
interfero
meter
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
Interferometer uses the principle of interference to directly measure density
variations in a fluid.
Unlike Schlieren and shadowgraph techniques, which depend on the first and
second derivatives of density, interferometry provides direct density field
information by exploiting optical path differences.
Working Principle:
Two light rays, originating from the same source, travel through different paths to
reach a screen. If the paths differ in optical length, interference fringes are
generated on the screen as alternating bright and dark regions.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
The number of fringes depends on the difference in path length (ΔL).
A path difference equal to one wavelength (λ) creates one fringe.
Greater path differences generate more fringes.
If one ray passes through a medium of different refractive index, the optical path
difference (ΔL) changes.
The refractive index is related to density.
Deflection of Light in
Flow Fields
Key Equations:
Change in optical path: ΔL=L⋅(n2−n1 where n1n_1 and n2n_2 are refractive
indices of the two media, and LL is the path length.
Number of fringes: N=KLλ(p2−p1) where p1and p2 are the densities, Kis a
constant, and λ is the wavelength of light.
Applications:
Using fringe shifts, the optical path difference can be related to density
changes in the fluid.
Application of
density variation
techniques in real-
world scenarios.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
1. Supersonic and Hypersonic Aerodynamics:
Techniques: Shock Capturing and Adaptive Mesh Refinement:
Supersonic and hypersonic flows exhibit sharp density gradients across
shock waves and expansion fans.
Example: In the design of hypersonic aircraft (e.g., X-15 or SpaceX
Starship), shock-capturing schemes like high-order finite volume or finite
difference methods are used to resolve steep density variations across
shock waves. Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) is applied to ensure
computational resources focus on areas with significant density changes,
such as near leading edges or wingtips.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
1. Supersonic and Hypersonic Aerodynamics:
Technique: Variable Density Navier-Stokes Solvers:
CFD simulations for supersonic inlets and nozzles require solving
compressible Navier-Stokes equations, incorporating density as a variable
dependent on pressure and temperature.
Example: Scramjet engines use these solvers to model air compression at
Mach 6+, where density varies drastically.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
2. Atmospheric Dynamics:
Technique: Hydrostatic Approximation in Weather Models:
Large-scale atmospheric simulations often rely on density variation
techniques using the hydrostatic assumption, which links pressure
gradients to density changes with altitude.
Example: Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, such as the WRF
(Weather Research and Forecasting) model, predict storm formation by
resolving vertical density variations caused by temperature gradients in the
troposphere.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
2. Atmospheric Dynamics:
Technique: Boussinesq Approximation:
For smaller-scale atmospheric flows, the Boussinesq approximation
simplifies density variations while maintaining accuracy for buoyancy
effects.
Example: Modeling the dynamics of sea breezes or localized
thunderstorms involves resolving density differences due to uneven heating
of land and water surfaces.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
2. Atmospheric Dynamics:
Technique: Boussinesq Approximation:
For smaller-scale atmospheric flows, the Boussinesq approximation
simplifies density variations while maintaining accuracy for buoyancy
effects.
Example: Modeling the dynamics of sea breezes or localized
thunderstorms involves resolving density differences due to uneven heating
of land and water surfaces.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
3. Gas Reservoir Modeling in Oil and Gas:
Technique: Equation of State (EOS) Models
Compressible fluid dynamics in gas reservoirs use EOS (e.g., Peng-
Robinson or Redlich-Kwong) to model density variations under changing
pressure and temperature conditions.
Example: During gas extraction from deep reservoirs, density variation
techniques help predict flow behavior and optimize production by
accounting for pressure gradients that cause gas expansion.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
3. Gas Reservoir Modeling in Oil and Gas:
Technique: Pseudo-Compressibility:
This method treats gas flow in porous media as pseudo-compressible to
simplify solving the governing equations for density variations.
Example: Simulating enhanced gas recovery techniques like CO₂ injection
involves understanding how injected gas alters density gradients in the
reservoir.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
4. Nozzle Flows and Rocket Propulsion:
Technique: Isentropic Flow Models
Density variation techniques using isentropic relationships are critical for
designing rocket nozzles where density decreases rapidly in the expansion
region.
Example: In rocket engines like those used by NASA or SpaceX, nozzle
designs must consider density changes to maximize exhaust velocity and
thrust efficiency.
Application of density
variation techniques in
real-world scenarios.
4. Nozzle Flows and Rocket Propulsion:
Technique: Compressible Flow Table Interpolation
Engineers use precomputed tables of density, pressure, and temperature
ratios (e.g., Mach tables) for quick predictions in nozzle design.
Example: Supersonic wind tunnels rely on these techniques to simulate
density variations in test environments for aerospace vehicles.
Thank
you
