Method and system for shear flow profiling
AssigneeWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution
InventorErik J. Anderson
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Abstract
The invention relates to a computerized method of profiling a shear flow, such as a boundary layer. The method includes receiving two successive images of a plurality of particles in the shear flow near the interface being analyzed. The method also includes determining a set of potential particle motion vectors based on the received images and dynamically ranks the likelihood that the potential tracks are correct based on track density. Track density is calculated using a plot matrix and kernel technique. The ranking is used to match particles from the successive images. The method also includes generating a velocity profile of the flow about the interface based on the particles matches and the determined location of the interface. The method is also applicable to moving and deforming interfaces.
Claims41
A computerized method of profiling a shear flow near an interface comprising:
- receiving first and second images of a plurality of particles in the shear flow near the interface wherein the images are generated at successive time instants;
- determining a set of potential particle motion vectors based on the received images;
- dynamically ranking the potential particle motion vectors based on motion vector density;
- matching particles in the first image to particles in the second image based on the dynamic ranking;
- and
- generating a velocity profile about the interface based on the particle matching.
An apparatus for characterization of a boundary layer:
- a. an image source outputting successive images of a body surface in a flow;
- b. an image processor in communication with the image source configured to
- i. receive the successive images output by the image source;
- ii. detect particles in the successive images;
- iii. determine a set of potential motion vectors of the detected particles based on the received images;
- iv. dynamically rank the potential motion vectors in the set based on motion vector density;
- c. a data analysis module in communication with the image processor configured to:
- i. determine the velocity of particles located in the boundary layer near the body surface based on the ranked set of potential motion vectors;
- and
- ii. generate a boundary layer profile.
A method of characterizing a fluid flow comprising:
- receiving first and second images of a plurality of particles in the fluid flow wherein the images are generated at successive time instants;
- determining a set of potential particle motion vectors based on the received images;
- assigning the potential motion vectors locations in a coordinate system according to the angle and magnitude of the potential motion vector;
- determining a set of actual motion vectors by iteratively:
- i) determining a motion vector density score for each potential motion vector by transforming the coordinate system containing the potential motion vectors into a plot matrix and applying a kernel to the plot matrix;
- ii) ranking the potential particle motion vectors based on motion vector density,
- iii) selecting an actual motion vector based on the ranking,
- iv) eliminating redundant potential motion vectors based on the selection of the actual motion vector;
- and
- generating a velocity field of the flow based on the set of actual motion vectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.