Using line integral convolution for flow visualization: curvilinear grids, variable-speed animation, and unsteady flows

Author

Forssell, Lisa K. ; Cohen, Scott D.

Author_Institution

Comput. Sci. Corp., NASA Ames Res. Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

Volume

1

Issue

2

fYear

1995

fDate

6/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

133

Lastpage

141

Abstract

Line integral convolution (LIC), introduced by Cabral and Leedom (1993) is a powerful technique for imaging and animating vector fields. We extend the LIC technique in three ways. Firstly the existing algorithm is limited to vector fields over a regular Cartesian grid. We extend the algorithm and the animation techniques possible with it to vector fields over curvilinear surfaces, such as those found in computational fluid dynamics simulations. Secondly we introduce a technique to visualize vector magnitude as well as vector direction, i.e., variable-speed flow animation. Thirdly we show how to modify LIC to visualize unsteady (time dependent) flows. Our implementation utilizes texture-mapping hardware to run in real time, which allows our algorithms to be included in interactive applications

Keywords

computer animation; data visualisation; flow visualisation; real-time systems; LIC; animation; computational fluid dynamics simulations; curvilinear grids; curvilinear surfaces; flow visualization; interactive applications; line integral convolution; real time; regular Cartesian grid; texture-mapping hardware; unsteady flows; variable-speed animation; variable-speed flow animation; vector direction; vector fields; vector magnitude; Aerodynamics; Animation; Clouds; Computational fluid dynamics; Computational modeling; Convolution; Data visualization; Dynamic range; Hardware; Streaming media;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Visualization and Computer Graphics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-2626

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2945.468406

Filename

468406