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The purpose of this work was to develop a fiber optic imaging system for use in flow visualization studies at the Michigan State University Engine Research Laboratory. A flexible fiber optic image carrier was coupled with a high speed rotating prism camera to create a unique imaging system which can easily reach remote location test sites. The flow visualization study was conducted on a motored 3.5 L four-valve engine test rig. A 40 watt pulsed copper vapor laser was synchronized with the camera to produce motion picture film at 5000 frames per second (fps). The image carrier which is attached to the camera contained an 80 degree field of view (FOV) tip adapter for viewing the entire cross-sectional area of the cylinder. The area imaged was a radial plane located 3 cm from the intake valves. The engine rig was motored at 850 rpm with a flow rate of 18 kg/hr. Entrained microballoon seeding particles were filmed as they traveled through the cylinder.

Laser Doppler anemometry measurements have been made in a motored rotary engine assembly. The purpose of this study was to compare the flow fields of two different rotor pocket geometries experimentally. Two-dimensional measurements were taken over a central plane grid during intake and early compression at a shaft speed of 2000 rpm and wide open throttle. This data is to be used to quantify the central plane flow field and to provide experimental data for comparison with current analytical models. Two rotor pocket geometries were examined. The first rotor pocket geometry was a leading deep recess, and the second was a centrally located symmetric pocket. The same production apex and side seals were used for both rotors. The reduced velocity data was displayed as vector field plots within a computer animation to facilitate observation of the flow field and comparisons to analytical models.