A study of circular couette flow by laser doppler measurement techniques

A laser Doppler velocimeter is constructed and used to make flow measurements in circular Couette flow. The flow is created between concentric cylinders with a small gap-to-radius ratio, and measurements of the velocity profiles are made in both laminar and turbulent flow regimes. Distortion due to end effects is noted in the laminar case, but the turbulent case is shown to conform well to a three region model. A study of the mean velocity profiles allows estimates of skin friction and Reynolds stresses. Turbulent velocity fluctuations are also estimated from the laser Doppler technique, and their intensity compared with existing results for plane Couette flow.Applied Science, Faculty ofMechanical Engineering, Department ofGraduat