INTRODUCTION |
GiD is an interactive graphical user interface used for the definition, preparation and visualization of all the data related to a numerical simulation. This data includes the definition of the geometry, materials, conditions, solution information and other parameters. The program can generate a mesh for finite element, finite volume or finite difference analysis and write the information for a numerical simulation program in its desired format. It is also possible to run these numerical simulations from within GiD and then visualize the results of the analysis.
GiD can be customized and configured by users so that the data required for their own solver modules may be generated. These solver modules may then be included within the GiD software system.
The program works, when defining the geometry, in a similar way to a CAD (Computer Aided Design) system but with some differences. The most important of these is that the geometry is constructed in a hierarchical mode. This means that an entity of higher level (dimension) is constructed over entities of lower level; two adjacent entities will then share the same lower level entity.
All materials, conditions and solution parameters can be defined on the geometry itself, separately from the mesh as the meshing is only done once the problem has been fully defined. The advantages of this are that, using associative data structures, modifications to the geometry can be made and all other information will automatically be updated and ready for the analysis run.
Full graphic visualization of the geometry, mesh and conditions is available for comprehensive checking of the model before the analysis run is started. More comprehensive graphic visualization features are provided to evaluate the solution results after the analysis run. This postprocessing user interface can also be customized depending on the analysis type and the results provided.