An Interactive Water Flume with Laser-Based Flow Visualization For Improving Undergraduate Fluid Mechanics Instruction

University Of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder CO

Investigators

Abstract

Engineering - Civil (54) The project implements a sophisticated research technique, Planar Laser-Induced Florescence (PLIF), into a safe, versatile, and robust instructional tool at the University of Colorado. It adapts research and instructional implementations at Stanford University. The PLIF system is being incorporated into a dedicated teaching flume that students are using to visualize fluid flow and the effect of various interactions on the flow pattern. Five faculty members are incorporating the facility into their courses. Assessment tools include student surveys, open-ended interviews, written test, and course evaluations. The group is preparing a web site, a workshop, and engineering education publications describing the construction and implementation details along with assessment results.