How can complex flows be visualized, measured, and better understood? This question was the focus of around 80 scientists and representatives from industry at the 33rd Symposium “Experimental Fluid Mechanics 2026” held at the Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg). The traditional conference of the German Society for Laser Anemometry (GALA e. V.) brought together experts from all over Germany and beyond to Hamburg.
At the center were the latest developments in experimental fluid mechanics – from high-resolution laser-optical and imaging measurement techniques to the investigation of complex single- and multiphase flows. An increasingly important is played by the combination of experiments, numerical simulations, and data-driven methods.
“In times of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence, high-quality experimental data are gaining even more importance,” says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Schlüter from the Institute of Multiphase Flows at TU Hamburg. “Only by accurately capturing real flow processes can we develop reliable models and specifically improve new technologies.”
Important platform for “SMART Reactors”
The accompanying industrial exhibition attracted particular interest. Companies presented current measurement systems and the latest developments in flow measurement technology. Direct exchange between manufacturers, researchers, and users sparked lively discussions and provided many impulses for future applications and collaborations.
The event also offered intensive opportunities for exchange for the Collaborative Research Center CRC 1615 “SMART Reactors” at TU Hamburg, where novel reactors are being developed that can detect and specifically influence local process conditions. Experimental methods help to visualize flows and transport processes within the reactor and form an important basis for their targeted optimization.
Besides presentations, scientific discussions, and the industrial exhibition, personal exchange was especially emphasized. The symposium also gave early-career researchers the chance to present their work, establish new contacts, and engage in dialogue with experienced experts from science and industry.
