Flow visualization

are transparent, thus their flow patterns are invisible to the naked eye without methods to make them this visible.

With the development of computer models and CFD simulating flow processes (e.g. the distribution of air-conditioned air in a new car), purely computational methods have been developed.

In experimental fluid dynamics, flows are visualized by three methods: In scientific visualization flows are visualized with two main methods: In computational fluid dynamics the numerical solution of the governing equations can yield all the fluid properties in space and time.

This overwhelming amount of information must be displayed in a meaningful form.

Thus flow visualization is equally important in computational as in experimental fluid dynamics.

A model Cessna with helium-filled bubbles showing pathlines of the wingtip vortices .
Shadowgraph of the turbulent plume of hot air rising from a home-barbecue gas grill. Photograph by Gary S. Settles, Floviz Inc.