Simultaneous Shadow, Schlieren and Interferometric Visualization of Compressible Flows

For detailed investigations of processes and phenomena in the flow of compressible fluids, it is sometimes necessary to apply more than just one flow visualization technique as each method has its own characteristic strengths and weaknesses. In the case of flows with a low degree of repeatability, it may become mandatory to perform these multiple visualizations within the same experiment at identical or at least almost identical instants. This paper describes how two or more density-sensitive visualization techniques can be coupled in order to obtain simultaneously the distribution of density and its gradient and/or its second derivative in a flow field. The resulting optical systems are more complex than a conventional single visualization apparatus, but they can provide an unprecedented wealth of information about the flow field. By applying multiple visualization techniques, the inherent shortcomings of each individual method can be overcome and the risk of overlooking or misinterpreting certain flow features is reduced.