Tips & Tricks

CFD-VIEW Colormap Options: Static, Dynamic, and Cumulative

The Colormap Settings panel in CFD-VIEW assigns colors to data sets. Identical data values on an object are displayed with the same color if they are using the same colormap display. Three options offer the user the opportunity to select the mode for updating the colormap as the underlying data changes, for example during transient simulations. These options are: Static, Dynamic, and Cumulative

Using Region sources in CFD-VisCART

In order to control grid spacing at user-defined locations, mesh sources are a common tool in CFD-VisCART (Figure 1). Point, Line, Curve, Plane, Box and Surface sources have been available for several years. Cylinder and Sphere sources were introduced a few years back. To extend this tool set further, CFD-VisCART V2013.0 introduced Region sources.

Importing an arbitrary STL surface for post-processing in CFD VIEW

When using the Arbitrary-Cut operator, you have the option to directly import an external surface in STL format into the model. This option, which was first made available in V2013.4, underwent significant performance improvements in V2014.0. This option provides the ability to plot data and process information on any arbitrarily shaped surface. The import process involves reading the STL file and computing the intersections between this surface and the model’s volume cells. Results on the imported surface are interpolated from the intersected volume cells and are independent of the surface mesh size of the STL as long as the surface is properly represented.

Automatic covering of larger unwanted holes in CFD-VisCART

CFD-VisCART meshing automatically closes or covers holes in the geometry that are smaller in size than the cell size specified at the surfaces. To cover LARGER holes, the ‘Max Hole Size to Cover’ feature can be used. This feature, introduced in V2013.2, works to automatically cover larger holes in the geometry during mesh generation, and thus prevents the mesh from leaking into unwanted regions. This feature is available with all mesh types supported in CFD-VisCART.

Grouping option for CFD-VIEW Data Import

Grouping feature in CFD-ACE+ GUI and CFD-VIEW comes in handy when working with complex industrial models. This feature allows putting BC patches or VC entities into a group that can be manipulated easily, to either set up properties or display specific post-processing attributes.

CFD-VIEW Scripting is easier than ever with Journaling

In addition to the numerous options and tools available via the CFD-VIEW user interface, the scripting capability of CFD-VIEW allows you to perform complex data processing on your simulation results, and gives you the option to run the post-processing phase of your simulation in batch mode.

How to report and talk about simulation time in an objective manner

Reporting or talking about simulation time is a difficult subject. In the article a way to manage this problem in an objective manner is given.

Materials in the database - Which material properties to use with respect to the three methods to simulate the heat effects of welding

A material is described with exactly one set of material properties. In simulation engineering - depending on the applied method and the moment in time when the simulation is carried out in the product development cycle - only subsets of a full material data set might be required. In this article is outlined which subset is used for which purpose, what is available in the database, and what can be simulated.

The transient method – the third out of three methods to simulate the heat effects of welding

In order to meet different requirements from first design to start of production, three different methods are available in the Virtual Welding & Assembly Suite from ESI. The third one – the transient method – is used when not only distortion but also residual stresses and microstructure need to be evaluated. The part size allows running a heat source gradually. Compare it with a formability evaluation in sheet metal forming. A motorcycle rim may serve as an example.

The instantaneous method – the second out of three methods to simulate the heat effects of welding

In order to meet different requirements from first design to start of production, three different methods are available in the Virtual Welding & Assembly Suite from ESI. The second one – the instantaneous method – is used when not only distortion but also residual stresses and micro-structure needs to be evaluated, but welded designs are so huge that it would make no more sense to use a classic transient method with a moving heat source – the simulation time would be too long. Compare it with a feasibility evaluation in sheet metal forming. A frame as produced in machine building, with more than 100 welds, may serve as an example.