X-ray Flow Visualization of a Circular Hydraulic Jump

The circular hydraulic jump is a product of the impingement of a vertical, circular jet upon a smooth horizontal surface. Previous studies of this phenomenon have used methods such as electrical contact probes, photography, and lasers to measure various features. This study utilizes X-ray computed tomography (CT) to visualize the circular hydraulic jump; analysis is then completed on the reconstructed 3D image. Time-averaged data of the film thickness before and after the jump and the jump radius, as measured from the Xray CT images, compare well with available literature. Potential imaging improvements with the current equipment have been identified, particularly with respect to measuring film thickness.