Development and application of a new three components PIV system (3C-PIV designed for towing tank applications

The collection of fine experimental data is a constant need for the validation of CFD codes. The experimental techniques currently applied in hydrodynamic test facilities for the measurement of 3D velocity fields are generally intrusive (Pitot tube, propeller-type flow meter, hot wires) and/or time and resource consuming (Laser Doppler Velocimetry). In this context, the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is very interesting since it is non intrusive and it delivers data over a plane at each measurement. Two component PIV systems, delivering the two in-plane velocity components, already exist and start to be used in basins. However, their range of application remains limited. They cannot operate correctly in tri-dimensional