Measuring laminar flow in a cylindrical pipe using laser doppler velocimetry

Abstract

We describe an experiment in fluid dynamics using laser doppler velocimetry. The experiment includes measurements of the velocity profile in the laminar regime of a flowing fluid inside a cylindrical pipe. Results show good correspondence with theoretical predictions, clearly showing the potential of the setup in performing such measurements. We believe that the experiments can make a good start for students studying fluid dynamics. The study can be extended to include investigation of various factors (such as viscosity) and flow velocity measurements in the turbulent regime.