Tino Weinkauf

Saddle connectors - an approach to visualizing the topological skeleton of complex 3D vector fields

One of the reasons that topological methods have a limited popularity for the visualization of complex 3D flow fields is the fact that such topological structures contain a number of separating stream surfaces. Since these stream surfaces tend to hide each other as well as other topological features, for complex 3D topologies the visualizations become cluttered and hardly interpretable. This paper proposes to use particular stream lines called saddle connectors instead of separating stream surfaces and to depict single surfaces only on user demand. We discuss properties and computational issues of saddle connectors and apply these methods to complex flow data. We show that the use of saddle connectors makes topological skeletons available as a valuable visualization tool even for topologically complex 3D flow data.

Galilean invariant extraction and iconic representation of vortex core lines

While vortex region quantities are Galilean invariant, most methods for extracting vortex cores depend on the frame of reference. We present an approach to extracting vortex core lines independently of the frame of reference by extracting ridge and valley lines of Galilean invariant vortex region quantities. We discuss a generalization of this concept leading to higher dimensional features. For the visualization of extracted line features we use an iconic representation indicating their scale and extent. We apply our approach to datasets from numerical simulations and experimental measurements.

Topological methods for 2D time-dependent vector fields based on stream lines and path lines

This paper describes approaches to topologically segmenting 2D time-dependent vector fields. For this class of vector fields, two important classes of lines exist: stream lines and path lines. Because of this, two segmentations are possible: either concerning the behavior of stream lines or of path lines. While topological features based on stream lines are well established, we introduce path line oriented topology as a new visualization approach in this paper. As a contribution to stream line oriented topology, we introduce new methods to detect global bifurcations like saddle connections and cyclic fold bifurcations as well as a method of tracking all isolated closed stream lines. To get the path line oriented topology, we segment the vector field into areas of attracting, repelling, and saddle-like behavior of the path lines. We compare both kinds of topologies and apply them to a number of test data sets.

Boundary switch connectors for topological visualization of complex 3D vector fields

One of the reasons that topological methods have a limited popularity for the visualization of complex 3D flow fields is the fact that their topological structures contain a number of separating stream surfaces. Since these stream surfaces tend to hide each other as well as other topological features, for complex 3D topologies the visualizations become cluttered and hardly interpretable. One solution of this problem is the recently introduced concept of saddle connectors which treats separation surfaces emanating from critical points. In this paper we extend this concept to separation surfaces starting from boundary switch curves. This way we obtain a number of particular stream lines called boundary switch connectors. They connect either two boundary switch curves or a boundary switch curve with a saddle. We discuss properties and computational issues of boundary switch connectors and apply them to topologically complex flow data.

Extraction of parallel vector surfaces in 3D time-dependent fields and application to vortex core line tracking

We introduce an approach to tracking vortex core lines in time-dependent 3D flow fields which are defined by the parallel vectors approach. They build surface structures in the 4D space-time domain. To extract them, we introduce two 4D vector fields which act as feature flow fields, i.e., their integration gives the vortex core structures. As part of this approach, we extract and classify local bifurcations of vortex core lines in space-time. Based on a 4D stream surface integration, we provide an algorithm to extract the complete vortex core structure. We apply our technique to a number of test data sets.

Separatrix persistence: extraction of salient edges on surfaces using topological methods

Salient edges are perceptually prominent features of a surface. Most previous extraction schemes utilize the notion of ridges and valleys for their detection, thereby requiring curvature derivatives which are rather sensitive to noise. We introduce a novel method for salient edge extraction which does not depend on curvature derivatives. It is based on a topological analysis of the principal curvatures and salient edges of the surface are identified as parts of separatrices of the topological skeleton. Previous topological approaches obtain results including non‐salient edges due to inherent properties of the underlying algorithms. We extend the profound theory by introducing the novel concept of separatrix persistence, which is a smooth measure along a separatrix and allows to keep its most salient parts only. We compare our results with other methods for salient edge extraction.

Vortex and Strain Skeletons in Eulerian and Lagrangian Frames

We present an approach to analyze mixing in flow fields by extracting vortex and strain features as extremal structures of derived scalar quantities that satisfy a duality property: They indicate vortical as well as high-strain (saddle-type) regions. Specifically, we consider the Okubo-Weiss criterion and the recently introduced MZ criterion. Although the first is derived from a purely Eulerian framework, the latter is based on Lagrangian considerations. In both cases, high values indicate vortex activity, whereas low values indicate regions of high strain. By considering the extremal features of those quantities, we define the notions of a vortex and a strain skeleton in a hierarchical manner: The collection of maximal zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, and 2D structures assemble the vortex skeleton; the minimal structures identify the strain skeleton. We extract those features using scalar field topology and apply our method to a number of steady and unsteady 3D flow fields.

Cores of Swirling Particle Motion in Unsteady Flows

In nature and in flow experiments particles form patterns of swirling motion in certain locations. Existing approaches identify these structures by considering the behavior of stream lines. However, in unsteady flows particle motion is described by path lines which generally gives different swirling patterns than stream lines. We introduce a novel mathematical characterization of swirling motion cores in unsteady flows by generalizing the approach of Sujudi/Haimes to path lines. The cores of swirling particle motion are lines sweeping over time, i.e., surfaces in the space-time domain. They occur at locations where three derived 4D vectors become coplanar. To extract them, we show how to re-formulate the problem using the parallel vectors operator. We apply our method to a number of unsteady flow fields.

Smoke Surfaces: An Interactive Flow Visualization Technique Inspired by Real-World Flow Experiments

Smoke rendering is a standard technique for flow visualization. Most approaches are based on a volumetric, particle based, or image based representation of the smoke. This paper introduces an alternative representation of smoke structures: as semi-transparent streak surfaces. In order to make streak surface integration fast enough for interactive applications, we avoid expensive adaptive retriangulations by coupling the opacity of the triangles to their shapes. This way, the surface shows a smoke-like look even in rather turbulent areas. Furthermore, we show modifications of the approach to mimic smoke nozzles, wool tufts, and time surfaces. The technique is applied to a number of test data sets.

Path Line Attributes - an Information Visualization Approach to Analyzing the Dynamic Behavior of 3D Time-Dependent Flow Fields

We describe an approach to visually analyzing the dynamic behavior of 3D time-dependent flow fields by considering the behavior of the path lines. At selected positions in the 4D space-time domain, we compute a number of local and global properties of path lines describing relevant features of them. The resulting multivariate data set is analyzed by applying state-of-the-art information visualization approaches in the sense of a set of linked views (scatter plots, parallel coordinates, etc.) with interactive brushing and focus+context visualization. The selected path lines with certain properties are integrated and visualized as colored 3D curves. This approach allows an interactive exploration of intricate 4D flow structures. We apply our method to a number of flow data sets and describe how path line attributes are used for describing characteristic features of these flows.