Particle image velocimetry in a variable density flow: application to a dynamically evolving microburst

A fondamental difficulty in the experimental study of gravity-driven flows using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and other optical diagnostic techniques is the problem associated with variations in thé refractive index within the fluid. This paper discusses a method by which the refractive indices of two fluids are matched while maintaining density differences of up to 4%. Aqueous solutions of glycerol and potassium phosphate are used to achieve precise index matching in the presence of mixed and unmixed constituents. The effectiveness of the method is verified in a PIV study of a laboratory-scale model of an atmospheric microburst where planes of two-dimensional velocity vectors are obtained in thé evolving flow field.This work was sponsored by the National Science Foundation under grant CTS-9209948. We also thank TSI, Inc. for the use of its facility