Methods for optimizing parameters of gas turbine engine components

Methods for optimizing at least one operating parameter of an engine component using an experimentally measured 3D flow field involving providing a magnetic resonance imaging machine [10], providing a model of an engine component [14], placing the model [14] into the magnetic resonance imaging machine [10] with a fluid flow source [18] for applying an external fluid flow, applying the external fluid flow to the model [14], collecting data related to the external fluid flow about the model [14], and optimizing at least one operating parameter of the component [14] using the data.