Much has been said and written about the abilities of modern instrumentation to help solve problems of combustion in engines. In the main, however, the design and fabr ication of combustion chambers continues to be
based on extrapolation of exper ience gained from use and rig tests, with little input from advanced techniques such as those based on optical diagnotics. At the same time, it has become increasingly difficult to design better
combustion chambers without knowledge of the relevant flow processes. Thus, the future must involve improved understanding which, in turn, will require detailed measurements of velocity, temperature and concentration. The need
to narrow the gap between current industrial practice and the acquisition and implementation of improved techniques motivated the organization of the Advanced Study Institute upon which this volume is based. This Institute on
Instrumentation for Combustion and Flow in Engines was arranged to display the needs of industry and the possibilities made available by modern instrumentation and, at the same time, to make clear the relative advantages of
optical and probe techniques. Held at Vimeiro during the period from 13 to 26 September, 1987, the Institute was attended by 120 participants and 16 invited lecturers.