Supporting Finite Element Analysis with a Relational Database Backend Part III: OpenDX – Where the Numbers Come Alive

In this report, we show a unified visualization and data analysis approach to Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The example application is visualization of 3-D models of (metallic) polycrystals. Our solution combines a mature, general-purpose, rapid-prototyping visualization tool, OpenDX (formerly known as IBM Visualization Data Explorer) [1,2], with an enterprise-class relational database management system, Microsoft SQL Server [3]. Substantial progress can be made with established off-the-shelf technologies. This approach certainly has its limits and we point out some of the shortcomings which require more innovative products for visualization, data, and knowledge management. Overall, the approach is a substantial improvement in the FEA life cycle, and probably will work for other data-intensive sciences wanting to visualize and analyze massive simulation or measurement data sets.

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