Interactive, Animated Visualization Environment for Three-Dimensional Fluid Flow

Abstract

We describe an interactive, animated graphics environ ment that can be used to visualize the results of com putational fluid dynamics simulations. With this sys tem, the user can visualize flow past bodies or in chambers, using a variety of techniques borrowed from laboratory experiments, including dye injection, smoke visualization, and bubble wires. The environ ment provides the capability of three-dimensional rota tion of the flow under study, as well as placement of internal flow probes that can read location, velocity, and secondary quantities (such as vorticity and pres sure), which can be calculated from available data as the visualization unfolds. The system is implemented on a Connection Machine 2 attached to a framebuffer. As input, it accepts discretized data from a three- dimensional fluid flow calculation. Data should be provided on a three-dimensional grid at discrete time steps, and internal bodies and flow boundaries are de scribed using discrete panels. Input parameters are menu-driven, and images are updated at five frames per second. A prototype, second version of the system is implemented on a Connection Machine 5 using the Application Visualization System.