Image processing of hydrogen bubble flow visualization for determination of turbulence statistics and bursting characteristics

A technique is described which employs automated image processing of hydrogen-bubble flow visualization pictures to establish local, instantaneous velocity profile information. Hydrogen bubble flow visualization sequences are recorded using a high-speed video system and then digitized, stored, and evaluated by a VAX 11/780 computer. Employing special smoothing and gradient detection algorithms, individual bubble-lines are computer identified, which allows local velocity profiles to be constructed using time-of-flight techniques. It is demonstrated how this techniques may be used to 1) determine local velocity behavior as a function of position and time, 2) evaluate time-averaged turbulence properties, and 3) correlate probe-type turbulent burst detection techniques with the corresponding visualization data.List of symbols Re Reynolds number based on momentum thickness, u / - t ⁺ nondimensional time tu ² / - T VITA variance averaging time period - u shear velocity = - u local instantaneous streamwise velocity,x-direction - u local fluctuating streamwise velocity,x-direction - u ⁺ nondimensional streamwise velocity, /u - local normal velocity,y-direction - w local spanwise velocity,z-direction - x ⁺ nondimensional coordinate in streamwise direction xu /v - y ⁺ nondimensional coordinate normal to wall, yu /v Greek momentum thickness, - kinematic viscosity - _w wall shear stress This paper was presented at the Ninth Symposium on Turbulence, University of Missouri-Rolla, October 1–3, 1984