Accurate velocity measurements of boundary-layer flows using Doppler optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Pulsed ultrasound Doppler velocimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging are popular non-invasive measurement methods for flows of opaque fluids. The spatial and temporal resolution of these methods, however, is quite limited, and they lack accuracy, especially close to solid boundaries. In this paper, we show that solution to these problems is achieved by using Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT). DOCT provides simultaneous information about the fluid structure and velocity with very high spatial and temporal resolution. For benchmarking of the method we use water as the reference fluid. We show how DOCT gives a very good agreement with theory for the velocity profile, skin friction and viscosity directly from the measurement signal. The velocity profile extends from the turbulent region to viscous sublayer, and viscosity of the fluid can be calculated also from a turbulent flow with a good accuracy. Overall, DOCT is seen to be very well suited for providing new insight into boundary-layer flows, rheology and skin friction.