Computational steering of CFD simulations using a grid computing environment

Simulation of complex phenomena is usually a long computing process and it has been traditionally performed in batch mode on large high performance computing (HPC) systems. However, advances in computer processing and networking capabilities can now be used to monitor and alter simulation parameters whilst it is running. This process is called computational steering. By combining this capability with advanced communication tools, it is now possible for a group of scientists located across the world to work collaboratively while visualising on-going simulations. This raise the possibility that researches can now share their experience and promote new ideas and solutions by exploring collaboratively the solution space of a complex simulation. In this paper, a collaborative computational steering environment specialised to solve CFD problems is presented.