Flow Visualization Techniques in Architectural and Civil Engineering Fields

Abstract

To investigate wind environment in and around structures or wind loads acting on those surfaces, a flow visualization technique is very useful method. Recently, this technique is developing with the advance of digital image processing techniques and various facilities such as a digital video camera, a laser illumination device, a seeding generator of tracer particle and a computer system. Hence, the flow visualization techniques are used frequently in the architectural and civil engineering fields to measure the complicated flow and pressure fields in and around structures. This paper outlines the flow visualization techniques in the architectural and civil engineering fields and introduces examples of those applications.