A survey on infrared thermography for convective heat transfer measurements

During the past several years infrared thermography has evolved into a powe rful investigative means of thermo-fluid-dynamic analysis to measure convec tive heat fluxes as well as to investigate the surface flow field behaviour over complicated body shapes. The basic concepts that govern this innovati ve measurement technique together with some particular aspects linked to it s use are herein reviewed. Different operating methods together with their implementations are also discussed. Finally, the capability of infrared the rmography to deal with several simple, or complex, fluid flow configuration s is analysed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.