Measurement of flow density field by cyclic radial shearing interferometer

Transient measurements of high-speed airflow field are needed in the measurement of boundary layer. Digital interferometry can measure flow field quantitatively to obtain density information, which is very necessary in flow field measurement. In this paper, a common-path shearing interferometry method is introduced. It is insensitive to vibration and does not need a reference plane. It is suitable for flow field measurement. A fast algorithm based on spatial phase modulation, coupled with a pulse laser and a synchronous control system, is used to measure the disturbance density field quantitatively in real time. The acquisition resolution of the system is 200 pixels × 200 pixels, and the acquisition frequency can reach more than 1000 frames per second. The wavefront reconstruction method of the system has been simulated by computer, and the detection result is better than 1/20λ. The experimental results in a 0.6 m wind tunnel show that the system can restrain the vibration interference and distinguish the disturbance signal and the vibration noise remarkably. It has good application prospects.