FieldView-HO: a generalized high order FEM framework for engineering CFD in situ and post hoc data analysis and visualization

NASA predicts that high order finite element methods (FEM) will become standard practice by year 2030. Research and development activities related to FEM based methods within the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) engineering community has grown in recent years. Furthermore, it is projected that FEM currently in development can make more efficient use of the future exascale architectures than traditional methods. However, scientific and engineering data analysis and visualization (SEDAV) software tools do not exist for general use in the community. Most users of FEM rely upon inefficient and inaccurate linear methods to post- process their FEM data leaving the high value knowledge buried in these expensive simulations inaccessible. General statement of how this problem is being addressed JMSI Inc d.b.a. Intelligent Light proposes to develop a new generalized high order SEDAV software tool based upon MFEM open source finite element library from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). This new offering, named FieldView-HO, utilizes high order finite elements integrated throughout the visualization/analysis pipeline to give engineers a tool to extract high value knowledge from their high order FEM based results and grids with greater ease, interactivity and accuracy. By the completion of the Phase II SBIR project, JMSI will have developed a prototype SEDAV software that supports FEM methods of any order or algorithm type and allows the user to interactively analyze and extract high value knowledge from their FEM results. What is to be done in Phase I: The overall technical objective of the proposed SBIR project is to develop a prototype version of FieldView-HO ready for full productizing by the FieldView product team. During Phase 1, the following critical path technical objectives will be addressed: (1) Explore feasibility of new FEM data analysis and visualization pipelines (2) Identify integration issues of MFEM enabled in prototype FieldView-HO (3) Identity issues in the creation of MFEM grid and results files and prototype data extracts (XDB-HO) (4) Enable interactive extraction of prototype XDB-HO extract grid and results up to cubic coordinate surface and viewable in prototype FieldView-HO Commercial Applications and Other Benefits High Order FEM is used in the design of new automobile engines, aircraft in cruise and maneuvers, gas turbine engines and combustion. FieldView-HO will therefore benefit JMSI’s customers such as NASA, DOD, Boeing and Rolls Royce.