Virtual Reality Application in CFD Data Analysis for After Treatment Systems

Virtual reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed reality (MR) are advanced engineering techniques that coalesces physical and digital world to show case better perceiving. There are various complex physics which may not be feasible to visualize using conventional postprocessing methods. Various industrial experts are already exploring implementation of VR for product development. Traditional computational power is improving day-by-day with new additional features to reduce the discrepancy between test and CFD. There has been increase in demand to replace actual test by accurate simulation approaches. Post processing and data analysis is key to understand complex physics and resolve critical failure modes. Analysts spend considerable amount of time to analyze results and provide directions, design changes and recommendation. There is a scope to utilize advanced features of VR, AR and MR in CFD post-process to find out the root cause of any failures occurred with advanced visualization. This paper focusses on how VR can be used for CFD result analysis. Various physics such as Conjugate heat transfer, Discrete phase model, Flow analysis have been integrated with VR in this study. Few case studies are also discussed, demonstrating how VR helped in understanding complex physics and provide directions for product development. After treatment systems have complex multi physics involved. Using VR, droplet interaction with exhaust gases inside the system helped in better understanding of complex physics. Steady state thermal simulation is another area where VR visualization helps to understand high temperature plume in proximity regions. This paper also focusses on the challenges experienced during integration and usage of VR. ANSYS FLUENT with Ensight are primary tools which have integrated with SteamVR setup to utilize benefit of VR. Automated scripts have been created for ease of VR hand tools usage. Analyst issues in current postprocessing methods and solution to it through VR are also discussed in this paper. Advance level implementation of AR is demonstrated in this study.