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February 2, 2025
Publications
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Article

Optimizing Velocity Field Measurement with 3D-Printed Particles and MATLAB: A Cost-Effective System for Flow Visualization

Publicated to: AEROSPACE. 12 (1): 11- - 2025-01-01 12(1), DOI: 10.3390/aerospace12010011

Authors:

Aliaga-Maraver, Jose Juan; Rodriguez-Sevillano, angel Antonio; Casati-Calzada, Maria Jesus; Bardera-Mora, Rafael; Barroso-Barderas, Estela; Garcia-Matias, Juan Carlos; Lainez-Muniz, Alfonso; Visentin, Davide
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Affiliations

Inst Nacl Tecn Aeroespacial INTA, Low Speed Aerodynam Lab, Torrejon De Ardoz 28850, Spain - Author
Univ Padova UNIPD, Dept Ind Engn DII, I-35122 Padua, Italy - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid UPM, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Aeronaut & Espacio ETSIAE, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
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Abstract

This article aims to highlight the importance of including quantitative measurements when conducting flow visualization tests, such as those performed in towing tanks, within fluid mechanics analysis. It investigates the possibility of measuring velocity fields with an economically accessible technique compared to other techniques that require large financial investments, such as traditional PIV. The development of a MATLAB R2024b code based on image recognition and the use of 3D-printed tracer particles is proposed. Code workflow and how to make a correct selection of the processing parameters and its activity are explained and demonstrated on artificial images, generated by a computer, as well as real images, obtained in a 2D-test in the tank, achieving an accuracy, in absolute values, of 95%. However, the proposed velocimetry system currently has one important limitation, the impossibility of distinguishing between particles in different planes, which limits the study to two-dimensional tests. Then, the opportunity to include this technique in the study of more complex tests requires further investigation.
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Keywords

Flow visualizationIndustry, innovation and infrastructureOpen channel flowParticle image velocimetryParticle trackingParticle tracking velocimetryPivPtTowing tanTowing tankVelocimetryWater

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal AEROSPACE due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 16/55, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Engineering, Aerospace. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Aerospace Engineering.

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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-26:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 2.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 2 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/88743/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 113
  • Downloads: 102
Continuing with the social impact of the work, it is important to emphasize that, due to its content, it can be assigned to the area of interest of ODS 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure, with a probability of 58% according to the mBERT algorithm developed by Aurora University.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (ALIAGA MARAVER, JOSE JUAN) .

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been RODRIGUEZ SEVILLANO, ANGEL ANTONIO.

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Project objectives

La aportación persigue los siguientes objetivos: analizar la importancia de incluir mediciones cuantitativas en la visualización de flujos dentro del análisis de mecánica de fluidos; investigar la viabilidad de medir campos de velocidad mediante una técnica económica basada en partículas impresas en 3D y procesamiento en MATLAB R2024b; desarrollar un código MATLAB para el reconocimiento de imágenes y selección adecuada de parámetros de procesamiento; demostrar la eficacia del sistema en imágenes artificiales y reales obtenidas en pruebas 2D en tanque, alcanzando una precisión del 95%; y evaluar las limitaciones actuales del sistema, especialmente la imposibilidad de distinguir partículas en diferentes planos, señalando la necesidad de futuras investigaciones para su aplicación en estudios más complejos.
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Most relevant results

El estudio presenta una metodología innovadora para la medición de campos de velocidad en fluidos mediante partículas impresas en 3D y un código MATLAB R2024b basado en reconocimiento de imágenes. Los resultados más relevantes son: (1) desarrollo de un sistema económico y accesible en comparación con técnicas tradicionales como PIV; (2) explicación detallada del flujo de trabajo del código y selección adecuada de parámetros de procesamiento; (3) validación del sistema con imágenes artificiales y reales obtenidas en pruebas bidimensionales en tanque de remolque; (4) logro de una precisión del 95% en valores absolutos; y (5) limitación actual para distinguir partículas en diferentes planos, restringiendo el análisis a pruebas 2D.
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