Extracting fluid properties through high-speed video analysis

Abstract

We explore a non-contact method to measure changes in fluid properties by analyzing refractive motion in high speed video. We present a method of extracting fluid properties by performing video motion analysis using an automated wavelength matching filter followed by fitting of the measurements to theoretical capillary-gravity wave dispersion equations. This method requires an understanding of how field of view, refraction, and parallax affect measurements. We tested the method by analyzing trends in the surface tension to density ratio for cooling water, and for water versus glycerol.