Turbulent boundary layers across a porous surface using a plenoptic camera
- Students: Chelsea Thomason, Lauren McManus
- Collaborators: University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (Dr. James Best and Ken Christiansen)
- Funding Agency: National Science Foundation
In this work, we are collaborating with the University of Illinois to study the interaction of a turbulent boundary with a porous media. Currently, we are developing a bench-top refraction index matching (RIM) flow facility that will be used for the development of 3D flow diagnostics that will eventually be applied to study the 3D flow that occurs within and above the porous medium. A RIM facility matches the index of refraction of an aqueous solution with that of an optically transparent solid model such that refraction is avoided in the test section so that the full volume can be optically interrogated for flow measurements. We will be using the unique capabilities of a plenoptic camera to measure the 3D velocity field of this flow for a variety of flow and porosity conditions.
Schematic showing the interaction of a turbulent boundary layer flowing over a porous medium.
