Image: Flow Visualization - A Course in the Physics and Art of Fluid Flow
Flow Visualization Home Galleries Course Info Links
Saffman-Taylor Instability by Dustin Grace, Marilyn Poon, Jessica Todd and Robert Neilson
Incense Smoke by Paritosh Panchal Needle Wake by Brynne Sutton
Image: Student Quote - I'll never be able to ignore the sky again.
Sanjeev Sharma
Graduate Student
Mechanical Engineering

Flow Visualization

Flow visualization is the process of making the physics of fluid flows (gases, liquids) visible. In this course, we explore a range of techniques for creating images of fluid flows. Our work is motivated not just by the utility and importance of fluid flows, but also by their inherent beauty. The Flow Visualization course is designed for mixed teams of engineering and fine arts photography students at the University of Colorado, but anybody who has paid attention to the patterns while stirring milk into coffee or stared at the curl of a rising tendril of smoke has participated in flow visualization, and will understand the purpose of this course. Please explore this site; there are resources for teachers and students of all levels, as well as amazing images that anyone can enjoy
Explore the class galleries >>
Image: Flow Visualization News and Highlights
 
Try it yourself! Here are two modules developed for middle schools:
Floating and Falling Flows illustrates some physics of buoyant plumes
The Density Rainbow and the Great Viscosity Race illustrate the fluid properties of density and viscosity.
Comments on how these experiments worked for you are welcome. Email us.
Recent Student Awards:

Colleen Stroud's Turbulent Impinging Flame, 2nd place winner, Combustion Art Competition, Spring 2006, Central States Section of the Combustion Institute.

Beading Up by Tim Read, Tanner Ladkow, Andrea Fabri, Winner in the Gallery of Fluid Motion, Fall 2006 Meeting of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics.

Seven course images have been selected for the first University of Colorado Art in Science/Science in Art juried competition and exhibition.
Next course offering:
Spring 2009

Some assignments from Fall 07 are finally up!
Articles about the course:

"Images of Fluid Flow: Art and Physics by Students,". by Hertzberg, J. and Sweetman, A.
Journal of Visualization, Vol. 8, No. 2 (2005)145-152.

A Course in Flow Visualization: the Art and Physics of Fluid Flow, presented at the American Society for Engineering Education 2004 Annual Conference won the "Best Paper" PIC III award at the conference.

© 2007 Jean Hertzberg. All rights reserved.   -   Web Site: Corey Simpson