topologically relevant stream surfaces for flow visualization
When vector field topology is used for the visualization of a 3D vector field, various types of topological features have uniquely defined stream surfaces associated with them. Compared to arbitrary stream surfaces, such topology-induced stream surfaces are usually of simpler geometric shape and at the same time more expressive. We present a stream surface algorithm which robustly handles the special conditions associated with critical points and periodic orbits, such as vanishing velocity, unbounded curvature, and tightly winding spirals. We discuss error bounds and we give application examples for the range of topological features under consideration.
stream surface flow visualization vector field topology