Educational Particle Image Velocimetry Interactive Experiment Suites

Laboratory experience is an essential component of teaching Fluid Mechanics. Hands-on teaching methods provide a lasting understanding of the fluid flow principles. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) has become a very powerful technique for studying fluid mechanics. Unfortunately very high price and safety concerns of using Class 4 lasers prevent this technology being used in the undergraduate and graduate laboratory teaching. Recently, however, a relatively inexpensive, and safe for classroom use ‘educational Particle Image Velocimetry’ (ePIV) system with web based interactive software was developed. This novel technology is an instrument that can be used in diverse educational settings because of its effectiveness as an education tool, high-tech appeal, compact size, low cost and safety. In this paper we introduce ePIV, describe its components in detail and provide examples of how it can be used to enhance undergraduate and graduate laboratory experience.