An extended study of a generalized digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) processing technique

A generalized cross-correlation particle image velocimetry (PIV) method capable of providing direct estimates of fluid velocity, vorticity and in-plane shear rates has been introduced and described by Mayer (2000 Exp. Fluids 33 443–57). While being useful, this generalized image deformation-based PIV (herein referred to as GIDPIV) method has not been deeply investigated. Toward this end, this paper examines the influence of window radii, particle diameter, seeding density, weighting functions and interpolation algorithms on the accuracy of this GIDPIV. Synthetic images representing uniform flow and an Oseen vortex flow, along with an experimental image set, are used to assess the performance results via investigation of random, bias and total errors.