Beyond the arrow plot : new methods for flow visualization

Within the realm of CFD-based flow analysis, the presentation of data is a vital issue. Researchers and developers need to gain insight, and non-technical managers and commercial staff have a critical need to understand the true ramifications of the data. Unfortunately, current methods for visualizing flow have limitations that make it difficult to interpret vast quantities of data. New flow visualization techniques, however, can help overcome these limitations and greatly facilitate the interpretation of data for the benefit of technical and non-technical personnel alike. This article explains some of the major limitations of current flow visualization techniques, and introduces the reader to some of the most promising new techniques, including the use of flow probes, texture, stream-surfaces, surface particles, and others which are still undergoing research.