Distributed Interactive Graphics Applications in Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

Implementation of two distributed graphics pro grams used in computational fluid dynamics is discussed. Both programs are interactive in na ture. They run on a CRAY-2 supercomputer and use a Silicon Graphics Iris workstation as the front-end machine. The hardware and supporting software are from the Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation project The supercomputer does all numerically intensive work and the workstation, as the front-end machine, allows the user to perform real-time interactive transformations on the displayed data. The first program was written as a distributed program that computes particle traces for fluid flow solutions existing on the su percomputer. The second is an older post-pro cessing and plotting program modified to run in a distributed mode. Both programs have realized a large increase in speed over that obtained using a single machine. By using these pro grams, one can learn quickly about complex features of a three-dimensional flow field. Some color results are presented.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bailey, F.R. 1986. Status and projections of the NAS program. NASA TM 88339 . Moffett Field, Calif.: NASA Ames Research Center.

Buning, P.G. , and Steger, J.L. 1985. Graphics and flow visualization in computational fluid dynamics. AIAA Paper 85-1507. Presented at AIAA 7th computational fluid dynamics conf., Cincinnati, Ohio , July 15-17.

Choi, D. , and Levit, C. 1987. Implementation of a distributed interactive graphics system . Internat. J. Supercomput. Appl., this issue.

Flores, J. , Reznick, S.G. , Holst, T.L. , and Gundy, K. 1987. Transonic Navier-Stokes solutions for a fighter-like configuration. AIAA Paper 87-0032. Presented at AIAA 25th aerospace sciences meeting, Reno, Nev., January I2-15.

Kwak, D. , Chang, J.L.C. , Shanks, S.P. , and Chakravarthy, S.R. 1986. A three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes flow solver using primitive variables. AIAA J. 24(3):390-396.

Lasinski, T. , Buning, P.G. , Choi, D. , Rogers, S.E. , Bancroft, G. , and Merritt, F.J. 1987. Flow visualization of CFD using graphics workstations . AIAA Paper 87-1180. Presented at AIAA 8th computational fluid dynamics conf., Honolulu, Hawaii, June 9-11.

Reznick, S.G. , and Flores, J. 1987. Strake generated vortex interactions for a fighter-like configuration. AIAA Paper 87-0589. Presented at AIAA 25th aerospace sciences meeting, Reno, Nev., January 12-15.

Rogers, S.E. , Kwak, D. , and Kaul, U.K. 1987. On the accuracy of the pseudocompressibility method in solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Appl. Math. Modelling 11(1):35-44.

Yang, R.-J. , Chang, J.L.C. , and Kwak, D. 1987. A Navier-Stokes simulation of the space shuttle main engine hot gas manifold. AIAA Paper 87-0368. Presented at AIAA 25th aerospace sciences meeting, Reno, Nev., January 12—15.