Critical Component Repair for a Time-Resolved Particle Image Velocimetry System

所要求的资金用于更换作为时间分辨粒子图像测速系统(PIV)主要部件的现有高速激光器。这一基本系统在一系列尖端研究应用中被用于流体速度场测量和流动可视化的申请者大量使用。该系统依靠高速激光和数字成像技术来测量平面内的流速。申请者拥有活跃的研究小组，他们正在探索各种主题，从用于下一代微型飞行器空气动力学设计的翼型上的层流分离气泡，到用于能量收集的可变形表面的涡流撞击事件，最终为分布式环境传感器提供动力，到理解流体-结构相互作用问题中的信息流，以此作为评估多风环境中土木结构如何相互作用的新工具，以及其他潜在应用。所有这些研究课题都得到了国家和国际政府和工业资金的支持，在很大程度上依赖于对流体速度场时空演变的详细解析，以阐明潜在的物理基础，从而开发出改进的工程解决方案。高速激光功率的正常寿命周期结束退化已将输出减少到其额定功率输出的25%以下。维修激光器的费用几乎与通过以旧换新方式用新型号替换现有激光器一样昂贵；因此，需要为更换激光器申请资金，因为可能还有其他激光部件的使用寿命即将结束。目前系统的有限性能严重阻碍了15名学生和博士后研究员的培训和进展，因此，如果不执行所要求的激光更换，将对这些研究生项目的进展产生严重后果。由于激光预计将在今年年底前无法操作，而且没有替代设备可用，即使是暂时的，对申请者的研究计划的总体后果将是相当毁灭性的。与此同时，维修/更换的费用(40,000美元)远远超过了设备维护的典型运营资金。

The funding requested is for replacement of an existing high-speed laser that serves as a primary component of a time-resolved Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system. This essential system is heavily used by the applicants for fluid velocity field measurements and flow visualization in a range of cutting-edge research applications. The system relies on high speed laser and digital imaging to measure flow velocity in a plane. The applicants have active research groups exploring topics ranging from laminar separation bubbles on airfoils for aerodynamic design of the next generation of micro air vehicles, to vortex impact events with deformable surfaces for energy harvesting to ultimately power distributed environmental sensors, to understanding the information flow in fluid-structure interaction problems as a novel tool for assessing how civil structures interact with one another in a windy environment, amongst other potential applications. All of these research topics, which are supported by national and international government and industrial funding, rely heavily on detailed resolution of the spatial and temporal evolution of the fluid velocity field to elucidate the underlying physics towards developing improved engineering solutions. Normal end-of-life-cycle degradation of the high speed laser power has reduced the output to less than 25% of its rated power output. Repair of the laser is nearly as expensive as replacing the existing laser with a new model through a trade-in option; as such, funding is requested for exchange of the laser, as there are likely other laser components that are nearing the end of their serviceable life. The limited performance of the current system is seriously hampering the training and progress of fifteen students and postdoctoral fellows, so that failure to implement the requested laser replacement will have drastic consequences on the progress of these graduate student projects. With the laser anticipated to become inoperable by the end of this year and no alternative equipment being available, even on a temporary basis, the overall consequences to the applicants’ research programs will be rather devastating. At the same time, the cost of repairs/replacement (>$40k USD) well exceeds typical operating funds available for equipment maintenance.