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DOE OSTI2026

BOS Gas Detection Pipeline (Integrated System for Optical Hydrogen Detection Using Background Oriented Schlieren and Machine Learning) [SWR-26-007]

This software is the world's first integrated background oriented schlieren and machine learning-based leak detection system. The system provides real time visualization of gas leaks and machine learning interpenetration of leak severity. The software is supplemented by SWR-25-177, "gpu_piv (Graphics Processing Unit Accelerated Background Oriented Schlieren Algorithm", also developed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies. SEE DOECODE ID 182832.

Palin, Ian [National Laboratory of the Rockies (NL↗

NASA NTRS1982

Dual-Laser Schlieren System

Proposed schlieren system uses two lasers and two knife edges to simultaneously view perpendicular refractive-index gradients in a test volume. It is improvement over conventional schlieren systems, which monitor gradient along only one axis. Although originally developed to monitor materials-processing experiments in space, it should find application wherever there is need to study two-dimensional temperature, pressure, concentration or other gradients related to index of refraction.

Owen, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Self-synchronizing Schlieren photography and interferometry for the visualization of unsteady transonic flows

The use of self synchronizing stroboscopic Schlieren and laser interferometer systems to obtain quantitative space time measurements of distinguished flow surfaces, steakline patterns, and the density field of two dimensional flows that exhibit a periodic content was investigated. A large field single path stroboscopic Schlieren system was designed, constructed and successfully applied to visualize four periodic flows: near wake behind an oscillating airfoil; edge tone sound generation; 2-D planar wall jet; and axisymmetric pulsed sonic jet. This visualization technique provides an effective means of studying quasi-periodic flows in real time. The image on the viewing screen is a spatial signal average of the coherent periodic motion rather than a single realization, the high speed motion of a quasi-periodic flow can be reconstructed by recording photographs of the flow at different fixed time delays in one cycle. The preliminary design and construction of a self synchronizing stroboscopic laser interferometer with a modified Mach-Zehnder optical system is also reported.

Kadlec, R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Compact field color schlieren system for use in microgravity materials processing

A compact color schlieren system designed for field measurement of materials processing parameters has been built and tested in a microgravity environment. Improvements in the color filter design and a compact optical arrangement allowed the system described here to retain the traditional advantages of schlieren, such as simplicity, sensitivity, and ease of data interpretation. Testing was accomplished by successfully flying the instrument on a series of parabolic trajectories on the NASA KC-135 microgravity simulation aircraft. A variety of samples of interest in materials processing were examined. Although the present system was designed for aircraft use, the technique is well suited to space flight experimentation. A major goal of this effort was to accommodate the main optical system within a volume approximately equal to that of a Space Shuttle middeck locker. Future plans include the development of an automated space-qualified facility for use on the Shuttle and Space Station.

Poteet, W. M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Quantitative Schlieren analysis applied to holograms of crystals grown on Spacelab 3

In order to extract additional information about crystals grown in the microgravity environment of Spacelab, a quantitative schlieren analysis technique was developed for use in a Holography Ground System of the Fluid Experiment System. Utilizing the Unidex position controller, it was possible to measure deviation angles produced by refractive index gradients of 0.5 milliradians. Additionally, refractive index gradient maps for any recorded time during the crystal growth were drawn and used to create solute concentration maps for the environment around the crystal. The technique was applied to flight holograms of Cell 204 of the Fluid Experiment System that were recorded during the Spacelab 3 mission on STS 51B. A triglycine sulfate crystal was grown under isothermal conditions in the cell and the data gathered with the quantitative schlieren analysis technique is consistent with a diffusion limited growth process.

Brooks, Howard L.↗

NASA NTRS1991

An improved large-field focusing schlieren system

The analysis and performance of a high-brightness large-field focusing schlieren system is described. The system can be used to examine complex two- and three-dimensional flows. Techniques are described to obtain focusing schlieren through distorting optical elements, to use multiple colors in a time multiplexing technique, and to use diffuse screen holography for three-dimensional photographs.

Weinstein, Leonard M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Preliminary demonstrations of a focusing schlieren system for flow field diagnostics - Research in progress

A preliminary study to demonstrate the potential of the focusing schlieren technique to provide quantitative measurements of a three-dimensional flow field is described. The light intensity distribution in a focusing schlieren plane of view is shown to be related to the density gradients both in the focus plane and in the out of focus planes. The potential to implement digital filtering techniques to compensate for the out of focus features and to enhance the in focus features is discussed.

Doggett, G. P.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Improved Large-Field Focusing Schlieren System

System used to examine complicated two- and three-dimensional flows. High-brightness large-field focusing schlieren system incorporates Fresnel lens instead of glass diffuser. In system with large field of view, image may also be very large. Relay optical subsystem minifies large image while retaining all of light. Facilities candidates for use of focusing schlieren include low-speed wind and water tunnels. Heated or cooled flow tracers or injected low- or high-density tracers used to make flows visible for photographic recording.

Weinstein, Leonard M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A wind tunnel application of large-field focusing schlieren

A large-field focusing schlieren apparatus was installed in the NASA Lewis Research Center 9 by 15 foot wind tunnel in an attempt to determine the density gradient flow field of a free jet issuing from a supersonic nozzle configuration. The nozzle exit geometry was designed to reduce acoustic emissions from the jet by enhancing plume mixing. Thus, the flow exhibited a complex three-dimensional structure which warranted utilizing the sharp focusing capability of this type of schlieren method. Design considerations concerning tunnel limitations, high-speed photography, and video tape recording are presented in the paper.

Ponton, Michael K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

A sharp-focusing schlieren optical deflectometer

A new instrument capable of localized, nonintrusive turbulence measurements is developed by combining a focusing schlieren system with an optical deflectometer. This instrument records the fluctuating light intensity at a point in the focused schlieren image. Its capability is verified by making benchmark measurements of Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices produced in a low-speed axisymmetric mixing layer. The sharp-focusing effect is demonstrated both visually and quantitatively. The results show that the instrument is capable of optical turbulence measurements within a 4 mm depth-of-field.

Alvi, F. S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Quantitative results from the focusing schlieren technique

An iterative theoretical approach to obtain quantitative density data from the focusing schlieren technique is proposed. The approach is based on an approximate modeling of the focusing action in a focusing schlieren system, and an estimation of an appropriate focal plane thickness. The theoretical approach is incorporated in a computer program, and results obtained from a supersonic wind tunnel experiment evaluated by comparison with CFD data. The density distributions compared favorably with CFD predictions. However, improvements to the system are required in order to reduce noise in the data, to improve specifications of a depth of focus, and to refine the modeling of the focusing action.

Cook, S. P.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Aerodynamic investigation with focusing schlieren in a cryogenic wind tunnel

A flow visualization study was performed using a focusing schlieren system in the 0.3m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center. The design employed proved to be a useful flow visualization tool for flows as low as M = 0.4. This study marked the first verification of the focusing schlieren technique in a major subsonic/transonic wind tunnel, and the first time that high quality, detailed pictures of high-Reynolds number flows were obtained in a cryogenic wind tunnel. This test was part of a development program to implement instrumentation techniques in cryogenic wind tunnels, with the ultimate aim to use them in the National Transonic Facility (NTF).

Gartenberg, Ehud↗

NASA NTRS1993

Compact color schlieren optical system

A compact optical system for use with rainbow schlieren deflectometry is described. Both halves of the optical system consist of well-corrected telescopes whose refractive elements are all from manufacturer's stock catalogs, with the reflective primary being a spherical surface. As a result, the system is relatively easy to construct and meets the requirement of long focal length for quantitative rainbow schlieren measurements.

Buchele, Donald R.↗

NASA NTRS1948

Knocking Combustion Observed in a Spark-Ignition Engine with Simultaneous Direct and Schlieren High-Speed Motion Pictures and Pressure Records

Simultaneous direct and Schlieren photographs at 40,000 frames per second and correlated pressure records were taken of knocking combustion in a special spark-ignition engine to ascertain the intensity of certain end-zone reactions previously noted from Schlieren photography alone. A violent propagated homogeneous autoignition, or a similar phenomenon, previously observed, was again observed. The pressure records show autoignition of varying violence before the passage of a probable detonation wave. Extensive autoignition without occurrence of gas vibrations was seen in one explosion.

Osterstrom, Gordon E↗

NASA NTRS1993

Schlieren photographs and internal pressure distributions for three-dimensional sidewall-compression scramjet inlets at a Mach number of 6 in CF4

Three-dimensional sidewall-compression scramjet inlets with leading-edge sweeps of 30 deg and 70 deg were tested in the Langley Hypersonic CF4 Tunnel at a Mach number of 6 and a free-stream ratio of specific heats of 1.2. The parametric effects of leading-edge sweep, cowl position, contraction ratio, and Reynolds number were investigated. The models were instrumented with static pressure orifices distributed on the sidewalls, baseplate, and cowl. Schlieren movies were made of selected tunnel runs for flow visualization of the entrance plane and cowl region. Although these movies could not show the internal flow, the effect of the internal flow on the external flow was evident by way of spillage. The purpose is to provide a preliminary data release for the investigation. The models, facility, and testing methods are described, and the test matrix and a tabulation of tunnel runs are provided. Line plots highlighting the stated parametric effects and a representative set of schlieren photographs are presented without analysis.

Holland, Scott D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Aerodynamic Investigation with focusing schlieren in a cryogenic wind tunnel

A flow visualization study was performed using a focusing schlieren system in the 0.3m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center. The system proved to be a useful flow visualization tool for flows as low as M = 0.4. This study marked the first verification of the focusing schlieren technique in a major subsonic/transonic wind tunnel and the first time that high-quality, detailed pictures of high-Reynolds-numbers flows were obtained in a cryogenic wind tunnel. This test was part of a development program to implement instrumentation techniques in cryogenic wind tunnels, with the ultimate aim to use them in the National Transonic Facility (NTF).

Gartenberg, Ehud↗

NASA NTRS1995

Application of Bacteriorhodopsin Films in an Adaptive-Focusing Schlieren System

The photochromic property of bacteriorhodopsin films is exploited in the application of a focusing schlieren optical system for the visualization of optical phase information. By encoding an image on the film with light of one wavelength and reading out with a different wavelength, the readout beam can effectively see the photographic negative of the original image. The potential advantage of this system over previous focusing schlieren systems is that the updatable nature of the bacteriorhodopsin film allows system adaptation. I discuss two image encoding and readout techniques for the bacteriorhodopsin and use film transmission characteristics to choose the more appropriate method. I demonstrate the system principle with experimental results using argon-ion and He-Cd lasers as the two light sources of different wavelengths, and I discuss current limitations to implementation with a white-light source.

Downie, John D.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Application of Bacteriorhodopsin Films in an Adaptive-Focusing Schlieren System

Downie, John D.↗