Fluid Dynamics Collection

Supersonic shock waves, Schlieren image
Supersonic shock waves. Schlieren image showing the shock wave created by a supersonic jet flying in front of the Sun. Schlieren imaging is a method used to visualise density variations in

Notes by Leonardo da Vinci on the flow of water. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), an Italian artist, sculptor, architect and musician

Bose-Einstein condensate simulation. Computer simulation of vortices forming within a spinning Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). A BEC is a state of matter that can arise at very low temperatures

Nikolay Zhukovsky, Russian scientist, mathematician and engineer (b / w photo)
7200825 Nikolay Zhukovsky, Russian scientist, mathematician and engineer (b/w photo) by Russian Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Nikolay Zhukovsky (1847-1921)

Archimedes and his principle (chromolitho)
968583 Archimedes and his principle (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Archimedes and his principle)

Dust storm off West Africa
July 8, 2010 - Dust storm off West Africa

Satellite view of the Outer Aleutian Islands
June 2, 2010 - Satellite view of the Outer Aleutian Islands

Inside the diffuser section of a 16-foot supersonic wind tunnel
Inside the diffuser section of the16-foot supersonic wind tunnel at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee. Air that has been pushed through the section seen has passed through progressively narrowing

Cloud vortices in the area of the Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean
May 16, 2009 - A nadir view of cloud vortices in the area of the Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean

Unusual cloud patterns surrounding Guadalupe Island in the Pacific Ocean
August 24, 2013 - Unusual cloud patterns surrounding Guadalupe Island in the Pacific Ocean (left center). These are the result of a ubiquitous occurrence in the motion of fluids, a vortex street

Von Karmann cloud vortices off the coast of Cheju Do
December 26, 2009 - Von Karman cloud vortices off the coast of Cheju Do. Cheju Do is an island off the southwest coast of South Korea, its nearly invisible here beneath the cloud cover

Satellite view of clouds across the skies of the North Atlantic
January 24, 2011 - Satellite view of clouds across the skies of the North Atlantic. Lines of clouds stretch from northwest to southeast over the North Atlantic

Clouds over the Juan Fernandez Islands form into vortices
January 20, 2010 - Clouds over the Juan Fernandez Islands form into vortices. Turbulence, caused by the wind passing over the highest point of each island

Cloud vortices and glory off Guadalupe Island, Mexico
July 6, 2009 - Cloud vortices and glory off Guadalupe Island, Mexico

Cloud vortices off Cheju Do, South Korea
December 25, 2008 - Von Karmann cloud vortices off the coast of Cheju Do, South Korea. Cheju Do is an island off the southwest coast of South Korea, its nearly invisible here beneath the cloud cover

Cloud vortices off Jan Mayen Island, Greenland Sea
February 24, 2009 - Cloud vortices off Jan Mayen Island, Greenland Sea

Cloud patterns visible over the Aleutian Islands
March 14, 2010 - Interesting cloud patterns visible over the Aleutian Islands. Turbulence, caused by the wind passing over the highest points of the islands

This visualization shows ocean surface currents of the Kuroshio Current during the period from June 2005 through December 2007

A basic flow visualization test of an F-16XL Scamp model
An F-16XL Scamp model, four per cent the size of the full-scale aircraft, is tested in the Basic Aerodynamics Research Tunnel as part of a High Speed Research Program

Cloud vortices over the Cape Verde islands
January 5, 2005 - Low-level winds rushing over the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of northwestern Africa created cloud vortex streets

Glory over the Pacific Ocean
May 20, 2008 - A deck of clouds over the Pacific Ocean. The ring-shaped, rainbow-like phenomenon, known as a glory, appears through the length of the center of this image

Cloud vortex streets off the coast of northwestern Africa
May 15, 2009 -Low-level winds rushing over the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of northwestern Africa created cloud vortex streets which share this scene with the top of the Hubble Space Telescope

Ice floes along the coastline of Kamchatka
March 15, 2012 - The winter season blankets the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia in snow, but significant amounts of sea ice can also form and collect along the Pacific coastline

A glory is seen above a layer of stratocumulus clouds over the Pacific Ocean
June 21, 2012 - A layer of stratocumulus clouds over the Pacific Ocean served as the backdrop for this rainbow-like optical phenomenon known as a glory

The Active Flexible Wing model undergoing tests in a wind tunnel
This multiple-exposure photograph shows the Active Flexible Wing model at several pitch positions. Key accomplishments of this program included single and multiple- mode flutter suppression

Surface colours of a Soap Bubble C016 / 6366
Soap bubble colours. The movement in the thin film is due to the interaction between gravity and buoyancy in the liquid. The colours are produced by the interference of light waves reflected from

Weir and river measurements, 1897
Weir and river measurements. 19th-century artwork of a thin-wall weir being used to measure aspects of the flow of water along a river

Volcanic steam ring C016 / 5835
Volcanic steam ring. Sun, steam and a steam ring after being blown from the Bocca Nuova vent of Mount Etna, a volcano on the Italian island of Sicily

Volcanic steam ring C016 / 5834
Volcanic steam ring. Sun, steam and a steam ring after being blown from the Bocca Nuova vent of Mount Etna, a volcano on the Italian island of Sicily

Waves on a white dwarf star
White dwarf star waves. Image 3 of 3. Computer model of kilometre-high waves on the surface of a white dwarf star, a small, dense star formed at the end of a Sun-like stars life

Lithgow water tunnel. Researcher (lower right) standing on the Lithgow water tunnel. This water tunnel, built in the UK in around 1932, was used to test propeller designs for cavitation

Wind tunnel ship testing, 1952
Wind tunnel ship testing. This is a model of a liner being tested in an open jet wind tunnel. Photographed in 1952, in the Aerodynamics Division of the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK

Propeller cavitation. Test being carried out on a propeller to study cavitation effects. Cavitation is the formation of bubbles in a liquid due to changes in pressure

Delta wing aerodynamics. Vortices (right) seen streaming off a delta wing (left) during a water tunnel test. Air bubbles were used to visualise the flow pattern

Delta wing in a wind tunnel, 1964
Delta wing being inspected by a researcher in a wind tunnel. A delta wing is a triangular wing used on high-speed aircraft

John Scott Russell, Scottish engineer
John Scott Russell (1808-1882), Scottish engineer. During experiments into the feasibility of steam-powered canal boats Russell observed a prow wave that that, when the boat stopped

Nikolai Zhukovsky, Russian engineer
Nikolai Yegorovich Zhukovsky (1847-1921), Russian engineer. Also known as Joukowsky, he pioneered the study of air and fluid flow, which was crucial to a proper understanding of powered flight

Mikhail Lavrentyev, Soviet mathematician
Mikhail Alekseevich Lavrentyev (1900-1980), Soviet mathematician and hydrodynamicist, giving a lecture. Lavrentyevs work included studies of the physics of explosions

Mstislav Keldysh, Soviet physicist
Mstislav Vsevolodovich Keldysh (1911-1978), Soviet physicist and mathematician. Keldysh spent the inter-war years working on better aerodynamical models for aircraft

Science illustrations, 18th century

19th Century parallel-flow turbine. Historical diagram showing the mechanics of a parallel-flow turbine. A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from fluid flowing through it

Ships propeller. The propeller of a large merchant vessel, seen while the ship was in dry dock. Photographed at the Nerpa Shipyard near Murmansk, Russia

Bose-Einstein condensate research. Velocity-distribution data of a gas of rubidium atoms, confirming the discovery of a new phase of matter, the BoseEinstein condensate (BEC)

Storm waves, chaos model. This artwork was generated using non-linear transformations in the plane. This involved random vertical

Interference pattern. Light micrograph of interference patterns on a soap film. The different colours are due to interference of reflected light waves

Interference pattern in a ripple tank. Waves from two sources are interacting with each other. At the point where a wave peak from one hits a wave peak from another, or a trough hits a trough

Soap film patterns sequence. The sequence starts at left and ends at right. Over time, under the influence of gravity, the soap film degrades and breaks up

Soap film patterns. When white light is shone on a soap film (a thin mix of soap and water), coloured interference patterns are formed that correspond to the thickness of the film

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"Unveiling the Mysteries of Fluid Dynamics: From Leonardo da Vinci to Modern Simulations" Step into the captivating world of fluid dynamics, where supersonic shock waves and Schlieren images reveal the hidden secrets of flowing matter. With notes left behind by none other than Leonardo da Vinci himself, we embark on a journey through time and space. Delving deeper, we encounter a mesmerizing Bose-Einstein condensate simulation, showcasing the delicate dance of particles at ultracold temperatures. As propeller cavitation leaves us in awe, we witness its powerful impact on water as it transforms into vapor-filled bubbles. Interference patterns emerge before our eyes, demonstrating how waves interact harmoniously or collide with destructive force. Nikolay Zhukovsky's enigmatic black-and-white portrait reminds us of his contributions as a Russian scientist and mathematician who paved the way for modern aerodynamics. Archimedes' principle comes alive through a vibrant chromolithograph, reminding us that buoyancy is not just an abstract concept but a fundamental law governing submerged objects. Meanwhile, dust storms off West Africa and satellite views of the Outer Aleutian Islands remind us that they can not confined to laboratories but shape our natural environment. Peering inside the diffuser section of a 16-foot supersonic wind tunnel reveals intricate engineering marvels designed to study high-speed flows. Cloud vortices swirling around Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean captivate our imagination as nature showcases her own fluid symphony. In this ever-evolving field, scientists continue to unlock new frontiers in understanding how fluids behave under various conditions. From ancient scholars like Archimedes to contemporary researchers harnessing cutting-edge technology, their collective efforts illuminate one truth - fluid dynamics hold endless wonders waiting to be explored.