Tips & Tricks

CFD-FASTRAN/CFD-ACE+ coupling for thermal environment simulations

In certain applications, different regions of the computational domain experiences flow conditions that are so different that it is very difficult for a single solver to produce accurate results at the extremes. In many situations, such problems can be separated and solved using loosely coupled solvers. Each solver is chosen to provide highly accurate solutions for the prevailing flow conditions.

New Exposed Boundaries Visualization tool in CFD-GEOM

One of the various new features introduced in CFD-GEOM V2009.2 is the ‘Exposed Boundaries’ visualization tool. This tool allows users to quickly visualize those areas where closure problems remain in an otherwise closed and “watertight” model.

Repairing Imported CAD Geometries in CFD-GEOM

In most cases, importing CAD files in CFD-GEOM results in a clean geometry that can be directly used for further processing and/or meshing. However, for complex models, it is possible that the imported geometry has missing, untrimmed or defective surfaces that need to be manually repaired.

Butterfly Faces Meshing Tool in CFD-GEOM

In CFD-GEOM, a convenient meshing tool called "Butterfly Faces" allows the user to quickly and automatically create a structured mesh for circular topologies. The resulting mesh consists of 5 structured faces (4 sides and 1 core) inside a circle. Parameters are available to set the size of the core and the mesh density.

Exporting STL Files From CFD-GEOM

A CFD simulation process starts from an accurate representation of the boundaries that usually originates directly from CAD systems. STL and IGES are two of the most common output formats used as a starting point for mesh generation. STL (StereoLithography) files represent 3D surface geometries using a triangular mesh allowing unambiguous transfer of files from one system to another.

Avoiding Chimera Errors in CFD-FASTRAN

This note discusses a common error encountered by users when trying chimera meshes in CFD-FASTRAN. Such errors are easy to avoid and hopefully this note will assist you.

Using Levels in CFD-GEOM

Handling large models in CFD-GEOM is quite easy, but often there are thousands of entities, making it hard to sort out particular entities among them all. For cases like these, a visual grouping mechanism in CFD-GEOM makes viewing such models very efficient. Levels in CFD-GEOM are used as a visual grouping tool, allowing you to Show/Hide certain parts of your model easily and quickly

Hybrid Meshing in CFD-GEOM

Hybrid meshes can help in optimizing grids in complex geometries allowing for structured meshes in one part of a geometry, while using unstructured grids in more complex regions. This tip will show you how to create a simple hybrid (structured/tetrahedral) mesh system in CFD-GEOM, as shown in Figure 1.

Motion Model Dependencies in CFD-FASTRAN

Moving-body models available in CFD-FASTRAN are highly suited to simulate complex prescribed and six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) motions of rigid bodies. In many engineering problems, this translates to multiple bodies moving relative to one another.

Creating Multiple Blocks from a Single Mouse Click

Computational Fluid Dynamics initiated in structured grid context for smooth and orthogonal structured grid on relatively simple geometries. Today, CFD has evolved encompass multi block and overlapping structured grid techniques for complex geometries, along with other mesh types such as tetrahedrals, polyhedrals, and prisms.