Physically Based Methods for Tensor Field Visualization

The physical interpretation of mathematical features of tensor fields is highly application-specific. Existing visualization methods for tensor fields only cover a fraction of the broad application areas. We present a visualization method tailored specifically to the class of tensor field exhibiting properties similar to stress and strain tensors, which are commonly encountered in geomechanics. Our technique is a global method that represents the physical meaning of these tensor fields with their central features: regions of compression or expansion. The method is based on two steps: first, we define a positive definite metric, with the same topological structure as the tensor field; second, we visualize the resulting metric. The eigenvector fields are represented using a texture-based approach resembling line integral convolution (LIC) methods. The eigenvalues of the metric are encoded in free parameters of the texture definition. Our method supports an intuitive distinction between ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: VIS
• Authors: Bernd Hamann, Boris Jeremic, Hans Hagen, Ingrid Hotz, Kenneth I. Joy, Louis Feng
• Keywords: Global Method, Tensor Fields, VIS 2004, Visualization, Visualization Method