Visualization of Volumetric Flow-Field Data

The present paper is concerned with two issues of scientific visualization, fast interactive slicing and volume rendering of three-dimensional fluid flow data containing complicated three-dimensional flow structures and possible errors. Both issues are included in a single program called Voxvu, which is traded by Sun Microsystems, Inc. together with its TAAC-1 application accelerator hardware [TAA89]. Although the discussion relies on a program running only on a single hardware platform, some general conclusions can be drawn. From the experience gained in using this program, we may conclude that fast interactive visualization is the most effective, and therefore most powerful tool for the interpretation of three-dimensional fluid flow data.Volume rendering [DRE88] was found to be an effective and easy-to-use tool for the visualization of flow structures. During further experimentation with the method, the question arose as to what significance should be attributed to different substances in a single scalar field. A method was finally found where different substance properties are attributed to different vector components of a vector field, thus creating a new and meaningful rendering of fluid flow data. Discussed first is the problem that needs extensive use of visualization. The simulation and hardware environment are then described followed by the discussion of the visualization method. Specific results and experience are also reported.