A new method for 3-D vector field visualization utilizing streamlines and volume rendering techniques

To grasp the physical behavior of a three dimensional vector field phenomenon, not only it´s magnitude, but also its direction, loci and the streamlines of the vector field should be visualized simultaneously. In this paper, a new method for vector field visualization which satisfies the above mentioned criteria is presented. The method employs in parallel the volume rendering and the streamline visualization methods, providing highly sophisticated techniques for three dimensional vector field visualization. Two successful applications of the proposed visualization method for three dimensional eddy-current distribution inside an aluminum plate are also presented.