[BA/MA] BA: Raytracing for Heat-transfer Simulations

[ArneSchmitz]

In this thesis we aim to implement an efficient ray-tracer that computes so called form factors for a heat transfer simulation in Openfoam - an opensource CFD toolbox. We strive to simulate the heat exchange in objects such as car interiors or passenger cabins of a plane. A 3D model of the object in question is used in the form of a triangular mesh. Then a large number of rays is shot to estimate visibility betwen each pair of triangles. These visbility terms can be incorporated into the form factors that actually describe the amount of energy transferred from one triangle to the other. The equilibrium state of this transfer can be computed by solving a linear system of radiosity equations, which leads to the final solution. The task of this thesis is first to implement and evaluate efficient methods for tracing the rays and computing the form factors, and second to implement the solver for the radiosity system.

Requirements:

* C++ (or Java) coding experience

* Interest in Computer Graphics, Simulations and Mathematics

http://www.graphics.rwth-aachen.de/index.php?id=14

Contact:

Arne Schmitz <aschmitz@cs.rwth-aachen.de>