Visualization of CFD calculation results using 3D PDF

I work in the Environmental Group and mainly work on CFD computer simulations. Today I’m going to introduce the 3D PDF tool which can be used to demonstrate the results of CDF calculations.
CFD is the use of computers for fluid analysis, and we use it for prediction and evaluation of indoor air current distribution and the wind environment of the city. Specialised visualization software is used as a way of confirming the results of CFD calculations and to draw up distribution maps for temperature and wind velocity, however, to present the results to a third party a jpeg image is printed out and attached to a report. However, even though the CFD calculation is carried out in 3 dimensions, this information is finally presented to the client in the form of a 2 dimensional representation.

The 3D PDF resolves this issue. PDF is an electronic document format developed by Adobe Systems and there is a 3D version of this software. A example can be downloaded from the location below.

A visualisation of CFD calculation results using 3D PDF: the thermal environment of the human body:
Wind speed distribution: http://www.ptmtokyo.co.jp/blog/humanEnvironment_U2.pdf
Temperature distribution: http://www.ptmtokyo.co.jp/blog/humanEnvironment_T.pdf

The files should open in Adobe Reader to display images representing the air flows and temperature distribution around the human body.

3D PDF is different form usual electronic documents; as with CAD documents as the image can be rotated and we can zoom in an out using the mouse. A lot can be displayed in 3D PDF with the commonly used Adobe Reader. The advantage is that this format can be used to present the results of CFD calculations to a third party as a three-dimensional form without the need for specialised visualization software. This is extremely useful when explaining the results of CFD calculations to clients.

Shinya Ogata, Environmental Group
http://www.ptmtokyo.co.jp/