Fluid mechanics - Visualization: introduction

In the age of "all computing", calculation is king! Fluid mechanics has not escaped this tidal wave, and the considerable progress made in software has made it possible to solve a huge number of problems. As early as 1975, the most optimistic theorists were predicting the death of experimentation before the end of the decade. Today, a more moderate approach is the order of the day: experimentation remains an indispensable complement to simulation. The most diverse fields practiced by engineers provide ample proof of this: from the development of a Formula 1 car or an aircraft, to the study of the silting up of Mont-Saint-Michel, examples abound in aerodynamics as well as hydraulics. And among experimental methods, the visualization of phenomena continues to play an important role. These methods have evolved considerably over the last two decades, mainly thanks to the use of laser light, and continue to progress steadily today, not least because of the rapid development of image analysis and computer processing. There's no doubt that they still have a bright future ahead of them!