New Acoustic Meter for Measuring 3D Laboratory Flows

Abstract

A small, robust, and relatively inexpensive current meter was developed to measure uniform and oscillatory water flows in both open‐weather and enclosed‐physical‐model facilities. The 10‐MHz acoustic‐doppler volocimeter (ADV) measures three‐dimensional current velocity over the speed range of 0 to 2.5 m/s at a sampling rate of up to 25 Hz. Measurements are made in a small sampling volume located 5 cm from a slim transmit‐receive assembly. Comparison tests of the ADV in several engineering model facilities together with other velocity‐measurement instruments and in a precision tow‐channel facility were highly successful. The ADV is rugged and portable, and it can remain installed in facilities for extended periods without recalibration.