AN AUTOMATED 3-DIMENSIONAL PARTICLE TRACKING TECHNIQUE FOR THE STUDY OF MODELED ARTERIAL FLOW-FIELDS

An automated three-dimensional particle tracking technique has been de veloped to study particle motion in modeled flow fields. A high speed video recording system, Kodak Ektapro 1000, with two cameras arranged relatively orthogonally is used for this technique. The particle track ing data are compared to theoretical Piseuille flow and to laser Doppl er data from an axisymmetric stenosis model. The particle tracking dat a are in good agreement with both theoretical and laser Doppler data, and at least 79 percent of the particle paths were determined successf ully. Fluid dynamic properties derived by this technique are: 3-D part icle paths, velocity, and particle residence time.