Visualization of Three Dimensional CFD Results

Abstract

We have developed an interactive graphics system for the display of three dimensional CFD solutions on unstructured hexahedral grids. This system is implemented on a high-performance graphics supercomputer. Visualization methods employed are shaded color surface plots, integration of particle trajectories, interpolation of volumetric data onto a plane, interpolation of planar data onto a line segment, and extraction of numerical quantities from a plane. We have used this graphics system to examine the inviscid flow about the NTF delta wing, as solved by Becker, and found that it allows us to locate flow features quickly. We were unable to find a satisfactory method to visualize the three dimensional mesh structure. With the exception of particle path integration, the algorithms we have implemented can be used to visualize any volumetric data.