Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry using Smartphones and Colored Shadows

Area of Science:

• Fluid Dynamics
• Optical Measurement Techniques
• Experimental Physics

Background:

• Traditional Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (Tomo-PIV) systems are expensive and complex.
• There is a need for more accessible methods for fluid flow analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the feasibility of using low-cost smartphone cameras for Tomo-PIV.
• To develop a cost-effective alternative to commercial Tomo-PIV systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilized four smartphone cameras and colored pulsed LEDs (Red, Green, Blue) for back-lighting.
• Recorded RGB-colored shadows of particles, separating color channels to represent different time steps.
• Employed commercial Tomo-PIV software for calibration, 3D reconstruction, and velocity component calculation.
• Investigated a vortex ring flow for validation, comparing results with a commercial stereoscopic PIV system.

Main Results:

• Successfully implemented a Tomo-PIV system using affordable smartphone cameras.
• Achieved accurate measurement of all three velocity components within a volume.
• Demonstrated the capability for acceleration estimations through triple-pulse illumination.
• Error analysis showed comparable performance to a commercial stereoscopic PIV system.

Conclusions:

• The developed smartphone-based Tomo-PIV system is a viable and cost-effective alternative.
• This technique significantly reduces hardware costs, making advanced fluid dynamics analysis more accessible.
• The system holds potential for applications in education, industry, and scientific research.