Thickness Variation of a Liquid Sheet Formed by Two Impinging Jets Using Holographic Interferometry

In the work presented in this paper a real time holographic interferometry technique is developed to measure instantaneously and nonintrusively the thickness distribution of a liquid sheet formed by the impingement of two liquid jets. The experimental results are compared with earlier largely unverified analytical predictions. It is shown that the assumption that the sheet thickness is inversely proportional to the radial distance from the impingement point is in principle good. The dependence of the theoretically obtained proportionality constant on the azimuthal angle, however, while exhibiting the same trend it also shows some quantitative differences. Reasons are given in the context of the work. In addition, a weak effect of the jet velocity on the proportionality constant is found to exist. In the theories no such effect was modeled. Finally, comparisons between theoretical and experimental isothickness contours show differences. Overall, there appears to be a justification for improved theoretical studies including effects such as that of gravitation.