pivmat: PIV-Based Velocity Field Analysis Tool

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is a widely adopted technique for measuring fluid velocity fields through cross-correlation analysis of particle displacements between sequential images. To obtain complete flow field characterization, this implementation employs MATLAB-based algorithms that compute velocity vectors via Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) cross-correlation, with sub-pixel interpolation for enhanced accuracy. The code generates velocity magnitude contours, vector plots using quiver functions, and streamline visualizations through numerical integration of velocity data. Key functions include multi-pass processing for progressive resolution refinement, signal-to-noise ratio validation, and vector post-processing for outlier removal. The toolkit supports time-resolved analysis for turbulent flow studies and exports data in standard formats (VTK, Tecplot) for third-party visualization. Particularly valuable for engineering applications, this PIV solution enables quantitative analysis of fluid behavior in aerodynamics, hydraulic system design, and industrial process optimization through scriptable batch processing and customizable correlation windows.