Application of three-component PIV to the measurement of hypervelocity impact ejecta

Three-component Particle Image Velocimetry has been applied to the measurement of hypervelocity ejecta from meteoritic impact experiments. This work represents the first attempt at measuring ejecta from a ballistic event using the PIN technique. The ejecta particles are measured directly, within a plane, at any controlled instant after the impact. The particle trajectories are observed at all azimuthal positions relative to the impact point thus revealing both the shape of the curtain and the distribution of velocities at a given instance. By seeding the target with 10 mum hollow spheres, the fluid flow associated with the impact in an atmosphere is simultaneously observed with the ejecta. 3C PIV is demonstrated to be an ideally suited technique for investigations on ejecta trajectories, ejecta curtain morphology and the fluid mechanics in the presence of an atmosphere. Sample results are presented.