Visualization of CFD results in immersive virtual environments

An object-oriented event-driven immersive virtual environment (VE) is descr ibed for the visualization of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results. T he VE incorporates the following types of primitive software objects: inter face objects, support objects, geometric entities, and finite elements. The fluid domain is discretized using either a multi-block structured grid or an unstructured finite element mesh. The VE allows natural 'fly-through' vi sualization of the model, the CFD grid, and the model's surroundings. In or der to help visualize the flow and its effects on the model, the VE incorpo rates the following objects: stream objects (lines, surface-restricted line s, ribbons, and volumes); colored surfaces; elevation surfaces; surface arr ows; global and local iso-surfaces; vortex cores; and separation/attachment surfaces and lines. Most of these objects can be used for dynamically prob ing the flow. Particles and arrow animations can be displayed on top of str eam objects. Primitive response quantities as well as derived quantities ca n be used. A recursive tree search algorithm is used for real-time point an d value search in the CFD grid. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.