Computational Fluid Dynamics

Visualizing Computational Fluid Dynamics

This tutorial shows common visualization techniques for cfd datasets. We will be using the dataset disk_out_ref.exo, found in Paraview under File/ Open/ Examples. It has a vector field in it called V.

Slices

• File → Open → Examples → disk_out_ref.exo.. On the Properties tab, click Apply.
• +X
• Filters → Common → Slice. Apply. Unselect the Show Plane.
• Color by: v.
• In the pipeline browser, select disk_out_ref.exo
• Filters → Common → Slice. Y Normal. Apply. Unselect the Show Plane.
• Color by: pres.
• View → Color Map Editor → Presets (the little envelope with a heart) → Turbo.
• With the mouse, rotate the slices around so you can see both surfaces.

Stream Tracers - lines and tubes

• File → Open → Examples → disk_out_ref.exo.. On the Properties tab, click Apply.
• +X
• Filters → Common → Stream Tracer. v. Seed Type: Point Cloud. Uncheck Show Sphere. Apply.
• Color by: v.

Lines don't color as nicely as surfaces. Lets add a tube filter around each streamline.

• Filters → Search. Type Tube. Apply.

Now, we want to know which directions the particles are moving. We will use a glyph filter. Note we place the glyph filter on the streamline, not the tube.

• Select StreamTracer in the Pipeline Browser.
• Filters → Common → Glyph. Glyph Type: Cone. Orientation Array: v. Scale Array: v . Very Important - Scale Factor select the recycle button to the right. Apply.
• Color by: temp.
• View → Color Map Editor → Presets (the little envelope with a heart) → Black Body Radiation.
• Reset

Glyphs perpendicular to a slice

• File → Open → Examples → disk_out_ref.exo.. On the Properties tab, click Apply.
• +X

Lets create a half slice. This will be used as the seed plane for glyphs.

• Filters → Common → Slice. Origin 0, 0, 5. Uncheck Show Plane. Apply.
• Filters → Common → Clip. Uncheck Show Plane. Apply.

Now, apply glyphs.

• Filters → Common → Glyph. Glyph Type: Arrow. Orientation Array: v. Scale Array: v . Very Important - Scale Factor select the recycle button to the right. .5X. .5X. Apply.
• Color by: v. Change Magnitude to Z.

Let's put these glyphs back into context by showing the original dataset.

• Select disk_out_ref.exo in the Pipeline Browser. Representation: wireframe. On the Properties tab, change Opacity to 0.3.
• Use the mouse to zoom into the glyph vectors.