| Summary: | To investigate the vortical wake pattern generated by water flow past an oscillating symmetric airfoil, using experimental velocity fields from particle image velocimetry (PIV), a novel combinatorial vortex detection (CVD) algorithm is developed. The primary goal is to identify and characterize vortices within the wake. Experimental flows introduce complexities not present in numerical simulations, posing challenges for vortex detection. The proposed CVD approach offers a more robust alternative, excelling in both vortex detection and quantification of essential parameters, unlike widely-used methods such as <i>Q</i>-criterion, <i>λ<sub>2</sub></i>-criterion, and Δ-criterion, which rely on subjective and arbitrary thresholds resulting in uncertainty. The CVD algorithm effectively characterizes the airfoil wake, identifying and analyzing vortices aligning with the Burgers model. This research enhances understanding of wake phenomena and showcases the algorithm’s potential as a valuable tool for vortex detection and characterization, particularly for experimental fluid dynamics. It provides a comprehensive, robust, and non-arbitrary approach, overcoming limitations of traditional methods and opening new avenues for studying complex flows.
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