Isotropic resolution plenoptic background oriented schlieren through dual-view acquisition

Abstract

The key to uncovering underlying fluid mechanisms lies in high-resolution and large-scale three-dimensional (3D) measurements of flow fields. Currently, the mainstream methods that are capable of volumetric measurements, such as tomographic background oriented schlieren and conventional plenoptic background oriented schlieren (plenoptic BOS), suffer system complexity and low axial resolution, respectively, prohibiting their application in high fidelity 3D flow measurement. This paper proposed an isotropic resolution plenoptic BOS (ISO plenoptic BOS) system that employed a mirror to create a second image view for the region of interest, thereby can achieve isotropic spatial resolution with only one camera. We comprehensively assessed the feasibility of the system by imaging the density field induced by candle flames, heat gun, and the Mach disk produced by the underexpanded jet through the high-pressure nozzle exit. All results proved that the dual-view plenoptic BOS system has higher axial resolution and can provide a more accurate 3D density field than the conventional system. As a BOS system that can achieve high-resolution volumetric imaging without the additional cost of cameras, data acquisition, hardware synchronization, and scanning, our ISO plenoptic BOS can expand the road to large-scale and high-resolution aerodynamic imaging.