Development of interpolation-free PTV

A new particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) algorithm, which has no interpolation process requirement, has been constructed. An affine transformation and a hybrid fitness function were used to obtain final vector fields. A match probability method (MPM)-based PTV algorithm was used to save calculation convergences. The constructed algorithm was tested with synthetic images using the numerical data of Taylor-Green vortex flow and experimental images for the flow of a rectangular body with Re = 5300. Results obtained by the constructed PTV algorithm were compared with those obtained by the conventional cross-correlation particle image velocimetry (PIV) and the MPM. Comparison results revealed that the constructed interpolation-free PTV (IFPTV) algorithm demonstrated better performance than the aforementioned PIV and PTV algorithms. Furthermore, the constructed PTV algorithm does not need an error removal and interpolation process, enabling easy processing in PTV calculations while providing high-resolution grid vectors.