Using a 3-dimensional laser anemometer to determine mean streamline patterns in a turbulent flow

The determination of mean streamline patterns by moving the test point in the direction of the measured velocity is shown to produce cumulative errors that are unacceptable. A two-dimensional algorithm that minimizes these errors is presented and is analytically validated using simple potential flows. The algorithm is extended to three-dimensional flows and is again validated analytically. Finally, as an example of a typical application of the algorithm, mean streamlines are measured in a complex, turbulent flow with a three-dimensional laser anemometer.