paluzzi@sheila.arc.nasa.gov (Peter Paluzzi ZeroOne) (12/13/90)
NOTE: please address queries to
service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu
***COSMIC E-MAIL UPDATE***
The following program has been added to the COSMIC inventory.
Because of the demand for PLOT3D, the complete abstract follows.
This programs is made available for re-use by domestic
industries, government agencies, and universities under NASA's
Technology Utilization Program. Source code is included.
An educational discount may apply. In addition to checks and
purchase orders, COSMIC now accepts VISA and MasterCard.
Thank you for your continued interest in COSMIC.
PLOT3D from NASA Ames
PLOT3D is an interactive graphics program designed to help
scientists visualize computational fluid dynamics (CFD) grids and
solutions. Today, supercomputers and CFD algorithms can provide
scientists with simulations of such highly complex phenomena that
obtaining an understanding of the simulations has become a major
problem. Tools which help the scientist visualize the
simulations can be of tremendous aid.
PLOT3D/AMES offers more functions and features, and has been
adapted for more types of computers than any other CFD graphics
program. Version 3.6b+ is supported for five computers and
graphic libraries. Using PLOT3D, CFD physicists can view their
computational models from any angle, observing the physics of
problems and the quality of solutions.
As an aid in designing aircraft, for example, PLOT3D's
interactive computer graphics can show vortices, temperature,
reverse flow, pressure, and dozens of other characteristics of
air flow during flight. As critical areas become obvious, they
can easily be studied more closely using a finer grid.
PLOT3D is part of a computational fluid dynamics software
cycle. First, a program such as 3DGRAPE (ARC-12620) helps the
scientist generate computational grids to model an object and its
surrounding space. Once the grids have been designed and
parameters such as the angle of attack, Mach number, and Reynolds
number have been specified, a "flow-solver" program such as INS3D
(ARC-11794 or COS-10019) solves the system of equations governing
fluid flow, usually on a supercomputer. Grids sometimes have as
many as two million points, and the "flow-solver" produces a
solution file which contains density, x- y- and z-momentum, and
stagnation energy for each grid point. With such a solution file
and a grid file containing up to 50 grids as input, PLOT3D can
calculate and graphically display any one of 74 functions,
including shock waves, surface pressure, velocity vectors, and
particle traces.
PLOT3D's 74 functions are organized into five groups: 1)
Grid Functions for grids, grid-checking, etc.; 2) Scalar
Functions for contour or carpet plots of density, pressure,
temperature, Mach number, vorticity magnitude, helicity, etc.; 3)
Vector Functions for vector plots of velocity, vorticity,
momentum, and density gradient, etc.; 4) Particle Trace Functions
for rake-like plots of particle flow or vortex lines; and 5)
Shock locations based on pressure gradient.
TURB3D is a modification of PLOT3D which is used for viewing
CFD simulations of incompressible turbulent flow. Input flow
data consists of pressure, velocity and vorticity. Typical
quantities to plot include local fluctuations in flow quantities
and turbulent production terms, plotted in physical or wall
units. PLOT3D/TURB3D includes both TURB3D and PLOT3D because the
operation of TURB3D is identical to PLOT3D, and there is no
additional sample data or printed documentation for TURB3D.
Graphical capabilities of PLOT3D version 3.6b+ vary among
the implementations available through COSMIC. Customers are
encouraged to purchase and carefully review the PLOT3D manual
before ordering the program for a specific computer and graphics
library. There is only one manual for use with all
implementations of PLOT3D, and although this manual generally
assumes that the Silicon Graphics Iris implementation is being
used, informative comments concerning other implementations
appear throughout the text. With all implementations, the visual
representation of the object and flow field created by PLOT3D
consists of points, lines, and polygons. Points can be
represented with dots or symbols, color can be used to denote
data values, and perspective is used to show depth.
Differences among implementations impact the program's
ability to use graphical features that are based on 3D polygons,
the user's ability to manipulate the graphical displays, and the
user's ability to obtain alternate forms of output. The
VAX/VMS/DISSPLA implementation of PLOT3D supports 2-D polygons as
well as 2-D and 3-D lines, but does not support graphics features
requiring 3-D polygons (shading and hidden line removal, for
example). Views can be manipulated using keyboard commands. This
version of PLOT3D is potentially able to produce files for a
variety of output devices; however, site-specific capabilities
will vary depending on the device drivers supplied with the
user's DISSPLA library. If ARCGRAPH (ARC-12350) is installed on
the user's VAX, the VMS/DISSPLA version of PLOT3D can also be
used to create files for use in GAS (Graphics Animation System,
ARC-12379), an IRIS program capable of animating and recording
images on film.
The version 3.6b+ VMS/DISSPLA implementations of PLOT3D
(ARC-12777) and PLOT3D/TURB3D (ARC-12781) were developed for use
on VAX computers running VMS Version 5.0 and DISSPLA Version
11.0. The standard distribution media for each of these programs
is a 9-track, 6250 bpi magnetic tape in DEC VAX BACKUP format.
The version 3.6b+ UNIX/DISSPLA implementations of PLOT3D
(ARC-12788) and PLOT3D/TURB3D (ARC-12778) were developed for use
on computers running UNIX SYSTEM 5 with BSD 4.3 extensions. The
standard distribution media for each ofthese programs is a
9-track, 6250 bpi magnetic tape in TAR format.
The version 3.6b+ Supercomputer/IRIS implementations of
PLOT3D (ARC-12779) and PLOT3D/TURB3D (ARC-12784) are suitable for
use on CRAY 2/UNICOS, CONVEX, and ALLIANT computers with a remote
Silicon Graphics IRIS 2xxx/3xxx or IRIS 4D workstation. These
programs are distributed on .25 inch magnetic tape cartridges in
IRIS TAR format.
The version 3.6b+ SGI implementations of PLOT3D (ARC-12783)
and PLOT3D/TURB3D (ARC-12782) were developed for use on Silicon
Graphics IRIS 2xxx/3xxx or IRIS 4D workstations. These programs
are each distributed on one .25 inch magnetic tape cartridge in
IRIS TAR format.
The version 3.6b+ Apollo implementations of PLOT3D
(ARC-12789) and PLOT3D/TURB3D (ARC-12785) were developed for use
on Apollo computers running UNIX System V with BSD 4.3 extensions
and the graphics library GMR3D Version 2.0. The standard
distribution media for each of these programs is a 9-track, 6250
bpi magnetic tape in TAR format.
Customers purchasing one implementation version of PLOT3D or
PLOT3D/TURB3D will be given a $200 discount on each additional
implementation version ordered at the same time.Version 3.6b+ of
PLOT3D and PLOT3D/TURB3D are also supported for the following
computers and graphics libraries: (1) generic UNIX Supercomputer
and IRIS, suitable for CRAY 2/UNICOS, CONVEX, and Alliant with
remote IRIS 2xxx/3xxx or IRIS 4D (ARC-12779, ARC-12784); (2)
Silicon Graphics IRIS 2xxx/3xxx or IRIS 4D (ARC-12783,
ARC-12782); (3) generic UNIX and DISSPLA Version 11.0 (ARC-12788,
ARC-12778); and (4) Apollo computers running UNIX and GMR3D
Version 2.0 (ARC-12789, ARC-12785 which have no capabilities to
put text on plots).
Thank you for your continued interest in COSMIC.
COSMIC
The University of Georgia
382 East Broad Street
Athens, Ga. 30602
Phone (404) 542-3265
Fax (404) 542-4807
Internet: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu
Peter Paluzzi, Sr. Graphics Analyst, Sterling Software, ZeroOne Group
Advanced Computing Facility, NASA/Ames Research Center
Mail Stop 233-3, Moffett Field, CA 94035
(415) 604-4589 paluzzi@ames.arc.nasa.gov N6YEO (FTS) 464-4589