Applying virtual reality techniques to finite element solutions

Electrical machine design resorts more and more to numerical simulation techniques instead of prototyping, so as to reduce development time and costs. In order to replace prototypes advantageously, numerical simulations must be accurate. This is achieved by using the discretization techniques like the finite element method combined with a fine mesh. This results in a large amount of computed data that need to be postprocessed adequately to allow making a correct interpretation of the results and taking the right decisions. Virtual reality environments are suited to match these demands. They offer the possibility of exploring efficiently and in detail the computed results of complicated geometries. In this paper, a postprocessing software exploiting virtual reality capabilities is demonstrated and application examples are shown.