17.3.2 Streamlines: Feature

The streamlines feature is used to describe the underlying vector field from which the streamlines are constructed (Figure 17.3.2-1). In a finite difference calculation, the vector field is projected and integrated onto the cross-sectional area of the grid cell faces to obtain a flux on that face. The streamlines feature describes that flux. In a streamline tracing algorithm, the vector field is reconstructed from the flux and interpolated within the cells of the grid. In most instances, the resulting trajectory geometry may then be obtained by analytic integration within each cell.

Figure 17.3.2-1 Streamlines feature.