A HIGH SPEED ALGORITHM FOR 2D AND 3D PTV AND ITS APPLICATION

A high speed algorithm for two- and three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry (2D and 3D PTV) is introduced. The principle of the particle tracking is based on the similarity of particle distribution patterns. In order to identify each particle motion in a short time interval, a cross-correlation method is employed after the pictures of particle images are binarized. The merits of the technique are (1) simple and very high speed algorithm for particle tracking, (2) computer memory size required is small, and (3) the image analysis system is cheep and simple.
The results of its application to measurement of several flow fields of viscous free doublet, sink flow, two-phase flows of air bubble and water, and so on are shown and discussed.