Topology-based streamline placement algorithm for 2D flow field

To highlight the structure of 2D flow fields and keep streamlines evenly-spaced as possible, a new algorithm of streamline placements is presented in this paper. By analyzing the topology of underlying flow fields, the topological skeleton is extracted, which then segments the flow fields into topological areas. Topological skeleton is used as initial streamlines. And additional streamlines are recursively added at the centers of topological areas, until all of them are filled with streamlines. The number and density of streamlines are both determined by a virtual control grid that is superposed on the domain of flow fields. By adjusting the parameters of the control grid, varying density of the placement can be obtained to meet the requirements of multiresolution analysis. Test results show that the method presented in this paper can achieve high quality of streamline placements, and improve the effect of streamline visualizations.