ANSYS FLUENT 12.1 n Workbench User s Gude October 2009
Copyrght c 2009 by ANSYS, Inc. All Rghts Reserved. No part of ths document may be reproduced or otherwse used n any form wthout express wrtten permsson from ANSYS, Inc. Arpak, Mechancal APDL, Workbench, AUTODYN, CFX, FIDAP, FloWzard, FLUENT, GAMBIT, Iceboard, Icechp, Icemax, Icepak, Icepro, Icewave, MxSm, POLYFLOW, TGrd, and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, servce and feature names, logos and slogans are regstered trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or ts subsdares located n the Unted States or other countres. All other brand, product, servce and feature names or trademarks are the property of ther respectve owners. CATIA V5 s a regstered trademark of Dassault Systèmes. CHEMKIN s a regstered trademark of Reacton Desgn Inc. Portons of ths program nclude materal copyrghted by PathScale Corporaton 2003-2004. ANSYS, Inc. s certfed to ISO 9001:2008 See the on-lne documentaton for the complete Legal Notces for ANSYS propretary software and thrd-party software. If you are unable to access the Legal Notce, contact ANSYS, Inc.
Contents Preface UTM-1 1 Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench 1-1 1.1 Introducton to Workbench.......................... 1-2 1.1.1 Lmtatons.............................. 1-3 1.2 The Workbench Graphcal User Interface.................. 1-3 1.3 Creatng FLUENT-Based Systems...................... 1-5 1.3.1 Creatng FLUENT-Based Analyss Systems............ 1-5 1.3.2 Creatng FLUENT-Based Component Systems........... 1-8 1.4 Understandng Cell States wth FLUENT n Workbench.......... 1-9 1.5 Startng FLUENT n Workbench....................... 1-11 1.5.1 Startng FLUENT from a FLUENT-Based System......... 1-11 1.5.2 Specfyng FLUENT Launcher Settngs Wthn Workbench.... 1-12 1.6 Savng Your Work n FLUENT wth Workbench.............. 1-17 1.7 Extng FLUENT and Workbench...................... 1-19 1.8 An Example of a FLUENT Analyss n Workbench............. 1-20 1.9 Gettng Help for FLUENT n Workbench.................. 1-23 2 Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench 2-1 2.1 Importng Mesh, Case, and Data Fles................... 2-2 2.2 Usng the Update Command......................... 2-4 2.3 Refreshng FLUENT Input Data....................... 2-6 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 TOC-1
CONTENTS 2.4 Deletng Soluton and Setup Cell Data for FLUENT-Based Systems.... 2-7 2.4.1 Usng the Clear Generated Data Command from the Soluton Cell of FLUENT-Based Systems................... 2-7 2.4.2 Usng the Reset Command from the Setup and Soluton Cells of FLUENT-Based Systems....................... 2-7 2.5 Interruptng, Restartng, and Contnung a Calculaton.......... 2-8 2.6 Connectng Systems n Workbench..................... 2-11 2.6.1 Connectng Systems by Draggng and Droppng a System from the Toolbox onto Another System.............. 2-13 2.6.2 Connectng Systems By Draggng and Droppng FLUENT-Based Soluton Cells Onto Other Systems........ 2-16 2.7 Duplcatng FLUENT-Based Systems.................... 2-18 2.8 Changng the Settngs and Mesh n FLUENT................ 2-19 2.8.1 Changng Case and Mesh Settngs Before Begnnng a Calculaton.............................. 2-20 2.8.2 Changng Case and Mesh Settngs After a Calculaton Has Started.............................. 2-21 2.9 Case Modfcaton Strateges wth FLUENT and Workbench........ 2-25 2.10 Workng Wth Input and Output Parameters n Workbench........ 2-26 2.11 Vewng Your FLUENT Data Usng ANSYS CFD-Post........... 2-27 2.12 Understandng the Fle Structure for FLUENT n Workbench....... 2-29 2.12.1 FLUENT Fle Namng n Workbench................ 2-33 2.13 Workng wth ANSYS Lcensng....................... 2-35 2.13.1 Shared Lcensng Mode....................... 2-35 2.14 Usng Custom Systems............................ 2-36 2.15 Usng Journalng and Scrptng wth FLUENT n Workbench....... 2-37 TOC-2 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
CONTENTS A The FLUENT Fle Menu Under Workbench A-1 A.1 Fle/Refresh Input Data............................ A-1 A.2 Fle/Save Project............................... A-1 A.3 Fle/Import/Mesh................................. A-1 A.4 Fle/Import/Case................................. A-1 A.5 Fle/Import/Data................................. A-2 A.6 Fle/Import/Case and Data............................ A-2 A.7 Fle/Export/.................................... A-2 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 TOC-3
CONTENTS TOC-4 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
Usng Ths Manual The Contents of Ths Manual Ths document provdes nformaton about usng the FLUENT applcaton wthn Workbench. A bref descrpton of what s n each chapter follows: Chapter 1: Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench, descrbes an overvew of FLUENT wthn Workbench. Chapter 2: Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench, descrbes the detals of usng FLUENT wthn Workbench. Appendx A: The FLUENT Fle Menu Under Workbench, descrbes the dfferences n the FLUENT Fle menu wthn Workbench. Typographcal Conventons Several typographcal conventons are used n ths manual s text to facltate your learnng process. An nformatonal con ( ) marks an mportant note. Dfferent type styles are used to ndcate graphcal user nterface menu tems and text nterface menu tems (e.g., Iso-Surface dalog box, surface/so-surface command). The text nterface type style s also used when llustratng exactly what appears on the screen or exactly what you need to type nto a feld n a dalog box. The nformaton dsplayed on the screen s enclosed n a large box to dstngush t from the narratve text, and user nputs are often enclosed n smaller boxes. A mn flow chart s used to gude you through the navgaton pane, whch leads you to a specfc task page or dalog box. For example, Models Multphase Edt... ndcates that Models s selected n the navgaton pane, whch then opens the correspondng task page. In the Models task page, Multphase s selected from the lst. Clckng the Edt... button opens the Multphase dalog box. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 UTM-1
Usng Ths Manual Also, a mn flow chart s used to ndcate the menu selectons that lead you to a specfc command or dalog box. For example, Defne Injectons... ndcates that the Injectons... menu tem can be selected from the Defne pull-down menu, and dsplay mesh ndcates that the mesh command s avalable n the dsplay text menu. In ths manual, mn flow charts usually precede a descrpton of a dalog box or command, or a screen llustraton showng how to use the dalog box or command. They allow you to look up nformaton about a command or dalog box and quckly determne how to access t wthout havng to search the precedng materal. The menu selectons that wll lead you to a partcular dalog box or task page are also ndcated (usually wthn a paragraph) usng a /. For example, Defne/Materals... tells you to choose the Materals... menu tem from the Defne pull-down menu. Techncal Support If you encounter dffcultes whle usng FLUENT, please frst refer to the secton(s) of the manual contanng nformaton on the commands you are tryng to use or the type of problem you are tryng to solve. The product documentaton s avalable from the on-lne help, or from the User Servces Center. If you encounter an error, please wrte down the exact error message that appeared and note as much nformaton as you can about what you were dong n FLUENT. Then refer to the followng resources avalable on the User Servces Center: Installaton and System FAQs a lnk avalable from the man page on the User Servces Center. The FAQs can be searched by word or phrase, and are avalable for general nstallaton questons as well as for product questons. Known Defects for FLUENT a lnk avalable from the product page. The defects can be searched by word or phrase, and are lsted by categores. Onlne Techncal Support a lnk avalable from the man page on the User Servces Center. From the Onlne Techncal Support Portal page, there s a lnk to the Search Solutons & Request Support page, where the solutons can be searched by word or phrase. UTM-2 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
Usng Ths Manual Contactng Techncal Support If none of the resources avalable on the User Servces Center help n resolvng the problem, or you have complex modelng projects, we nvte you to log a techncal support request (www.fluentusers.com) to obtan further assstance. However, there are a few thngs that we encourage you to do before loggng a request: Note what you are tryng to accomplsh wth FLUENT. Note what you were dong when the problem or error occurred. Save a journal or transcrpt fle of the FLUENT sesson n whch the problem occurred. Ths s the best source that we can use to reproduce the problem and thereby help to dentfy the cause. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 UTM-3
Usng Ths Manual UTM-4 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
Chapter 1. Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench Ths document s desgned to provde nformaton about usng FLUENT wthn ANSYS Workbench. Some basc nformaton about usng Workbench s provded here, but the majorty of the nformaton about usng Workbench can be found n the Workbench onlne documentaton. Ths chapter provdes some basc nstructons for gettng started wth usng FLUENT n Workbench. Secton 1.1: Introducton to Workbench Secton 1.2: The Workbench Graphcal User Interface Secton 1.3: Creatng FLUENT-Based Systems Secton 1.4: Understandng Cell States wth FLUENT n Workbench Secton 1.5: Startng FLUENT n Workbench Secton 1.6: Savng Your Work n FLUENT wth Workbench Secton 1.7: Extng FLUENT and Workbench Secton 1.8: An Example of a FLUENT Analyss n Workbench Secton 1.9: Gettng Help for FLUENT n Workbench Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-1
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench 1.1 Introducton to Workbench ANSYS Workbench combnes access to ANSYS applcatons wth utltes that manage the product workflow. Applcatons that can be accessed from Workbench nclude: ANSYS DesgnModeler (for geometry creaton); ANSYS Meshng (for mesh generaton); ANSYS FLUENT or ANSYS CFX (for settng up and solvng flud dynamcs analyses); and ANSYS CFD-Post (for postprocessng the results). In Workbench, a project s composed of a group of systems. The project s drven by a schematc workflow that manages the connectons between the systems. From the schematc, you can nteract wth workspaces that are natve to Workbench, such as Desgn Exploraton (parameters and desgn ponts), and you can launch applcatons that are data-ntegrated wth Workbench (such as ANSYS FLUENT or ANSYS CFX). Data-ntegrated applcatons have separate nterfaces, but ther data s part of the Workbench project and s automatcally saved and shared wth other applcatons as needed. Ths makes the process of creatng and runnng a CFD smulaton more streamlned and effcent. Workbench allows you to construct projects composed of multple dependent systems that can be updated sequentally based on a workflow defned by the project schematc. For nstance, you can construct a project usng two connected FLUENT-based systems where the two systems share the same geometry and mesh; and the second system uses data from the frst system as ts ntal soluton data. When you have two systems connected n ths way, you can modfy the shared geometry once and then update the results for both systems wth a sngle mouse clck wthout havng to open the Meshng applcaton or FLUENT. Some examples of when ths s useful nclude: performng a reactng flow analyss startng from the soluton obtaned from a cold flow analyss; performng a second order analyss startng from the soluton obtaned from a frst order analyss; and performng a transent smulaton startng from the soluton obtaned from a steady-state analyss. In addton, Workbench also allows you to copy systems n order to effcently perform and compare multple smlar analyses. Workbench also provdes a parametrc modelng capabltes n conjuncton wth optmzaton technques to allow you to effcently nvestgate the effects of nput parameters on selected output parameters. 1-2 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.2 The Workbench Graphcal User Interface 1.1.1 Lmtatons The followng lmtatons are known when usng FLUENT n Workbench: Workbench unts and optons are not passed to FLUENT. The ANSYS Meshng applcaton automatcally generates nput mesh fles for FLUENT n meters. The text user nterface (TUI) shortcuts, or alases, for readng case and data fles for FLUENT n Workbench are dsabled by desgn. For example, fle read-case and f read-case can be used, however f rc cannot be used. The verson of FLUENT used under Workbench must always be the verson of FLU- ENT that was packaged and nstalled wth that verson of Workbench. It s not possble to use prevous versons of FLUENT under Workbench even through a FLUENT Inc. envronment varable. Under Workbench, the Mcrosoft Job Scheduler cannot be used to run FLUENT n seral. 1.2 The Workbench Graphcal User Interface The Workbench graphcal user nterface (Fgure 1.2.1) conssts of the Toolbox, the Project Schematc, the Toolbar, and the Menu bar. The most common way to begn work n Workbench s to drag an tem, such as a component system (applcaton) or an analyss system, from the Toolbox to the Project Schematc, or to double-clck on an tem to ntate the default acton. You wll vew your component and/or analyss systems the peces that make up your analyss n the Project Schematc, ncludng all connectons between the systems. The ndvdual applcatons n whch you work wll dsplay separately from the Workbench graphcal nterface, but the actons you take n the applcatons wll be reflected n the Project Schematc. Note that FLUENT can be accessed n Workbench as ether a component system or as an analyss system. Detals for usng both are descrbed throughout ths document. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-3
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench Menu Bar Toolbar Toolbox Analyss Systems Tools Project Schematc Component Systems Tools Fgure 1.2.1: The Workbench Graphcal User Interface Note that FLUENT n Workbench uses nformatonal and warnng dalog boxes that are desgned to gude you n varous ways as you work through your CFD analyss. Informatonal dalog boxes dsplay messages that assst you n a specfc task, or provde addtonal nformaton relatng to the task at hand. Warnng dalog boxes dsplay cautonary nformaton concernng a task that s about to be performed. Warnng dalog boxes that dsplay an OK and a Cancel button allow you to choose from one of two optons (to proceed or not to proceed), whereas, warnng dalog boxes that contan only an OK button are desgned to dsplay a cautonary message ndcatng that you need to be aware that the applcaton s about to change somethng. 1-4 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.3 Creatng FLUENT-Based Systems 1.3 Creatng FLUENT-Based Systems There are two basc types of systems: analyss systems and component systems. The Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system allows you to perform a complete CFD analyss and contans cells that allow you to: create geometry, generate a mesh, specfy settngs n FLUENT, run the FLUENT solver, and vsualze the results n ANSYS CFD-Post. The FLUENT component system allows you to access the FLUENT applcaton from wthn Workbench and contans only the cells needed to specfy settngs n FLUENT and run the FLUENT solver. When usng a FLUENT component system, a mesh must be mported nto the system or provded through a connecton from an upstream system. A separate cell for results vsualzaton s only needed when usng CFD-post. The post-processng capabltes n FLUENT can be accessed from both the Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system and the FLUENT component system. 1.3.1 Creatng FLUENT-Based Analyss Systems You can create a Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system n Workbench by double-clckng on Flud Flow (FLUENT) under Analyss Systems n the Toolbox. You can also create a Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system by left-clckng on Flud Flow (FLUENT) under Analyss Systems n the Toolbox, and then draggng t onto the Project Schematc. Fgure 1.3.1: Selectng the Flud Flow (FLUENT) Analyss System n Workbench Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-5
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench The new Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system appears n the Project Schematc as a box contanng several cells (Fgure 1.3.2). Each cell corresponds to a typcal task you would perform to complete a CFD analyss. The followng cells are avalable n a Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system: Geometry allows you to defne the geometrcal constrants of your analyss. You can use the context menu (by rght-clckng on the cell) to mport a pre-exstng geometry nto the system. Double-clckng on the Geometry cell opens ANSYS DesgnModeler where you can create a new geometry or modfy an exstng geometry. Mesh allows you to defne and generate a computatonal mesh for your analyss. Double-clckng on the Mesh cell opens ANSYS Meshng and loads the current mesh database (or the geometry defned by the Geometry cell) f you have not yet begun workng on the mesh. Alternatvely, you can use the context menu (by rght-clckng on the Mesh cell) to mport a pre-exstng FLUENT mesh nto the system. Importng a FLUENT mesh fle nto the Mesh cell results n the Mesh cell becomng the startng pont for your analyss. Therefore, the Geometry cell (and data t contans) wll be deleted from the system. FLUENT meshes mported nto the Mesh cell cannot be modfed by the ANSYS Meshng applcaton. Setup allows you to defne the boundary condtons, physcal models and solver settngs for the FLUENT analyss. Double-clckng on the Setup cell opens FLUENT and loads the mesh defned by the Mesh cell as well as any FLUENT settngs that have already been specfed. Alternatvely, you can use the context menu (by rghtclckng on the Setup cell) to mport a pre-exstng FLUENT case or mesh fle nto the system. After you specfy the fle you want to mport, FLUENT wll open and load the fle. If you open FLUENT before defnng a mesh, FLUENT wll open wthout loadng any fles. You can then choose to mport fles from the Fle menu n FLUENT. Importng a FLUENT case or mesh fle nto the Setup cell or the FLU- ENT applcaton results n the Setup cell becomng the startng pont for your analyss. Therefore, the Geometry and Mesh cells (and any data they contan) wll be deleted from the system. Soluton allows you to calculate a soluton n FLUENT. Double-clckng on the Soluton cell opens FLUENT and loads the current FLUENT case and data fles. If you have not yet performed any calculatons, FLUENT wll load the mesh fle as well as any settngs that have been specfed. 1-6 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.3 Creatng FLUENT-Based Systems You can also use the Soluton cell context menu to mport a pre-exstng FLUENT data fle to use for ntal soluton data. If you have not yet performed any calculatons, FLUENT wll load ths data fle n addton to the mesh and settngs. Results allows you to dsplay and analyze the results of the CFD analyss. Doubleclckng on the Results cell opens ANSYS CFD-Post and loads the current FLUENT case and data fles as well as the current ANSYS CFD-Post state fle. Fgure 1.3.2: A Flud Flow (FLUENT) Analyss System Note: Whle t s possble to apply dfferent names for the Setup or the Soluton cells by rght-clckng ether cell, and selectng the Rename opton n the context menu, t s not generally recommended to do so. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-7
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench 1.3.2 Creatng FLUENT-Based Component Systems Smlarly, you can create a FLUENT-based component system n Workbench by doubleclckng FLUENT under Component Systems. You can also create a FLUENT component system by left-clckng on FLU- ENT under Component Systems n the Toolbox, and then draggng t onto the Project Schematc. Fgure 1.3.3: Selectng the FLUENT Component System n Workbench The new FLUENT component system appears n the Project Schematc as a box contanng two cells: the Setup cell and the Soluton cell (Fgure 1.3.4). The Setup and Soluton cells n a FLUENT component system work n the same manner as descrbed above for the Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system. The only dfference s that the mesh must orgnate from a fle mported nto the Setup cell or the FLUENT applcaton, or t must be provded through a connecton from an upstream system. Fgure 1.3.4: A FLUENT Component System 1-8 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.4 Understandng Cell States wth FLUENT n Workbench 1.4 Understandng Cell States wth FLUENT n Workbench Workbench ntegrates multple data-ntegrated (e.g., FLUENT) and natve applcatons nto a sngle, seamless project flow, where ndvdual cells can obtan data from and provde data to other cells. Workbench provdes vsual ndcatons of a cell s state va cons on the rght sde of each cell. Bref descrptons of the each possble state are provded below. For more nformaton about cell states, see the Workbench on-lne help: Unfulflled ( ) ndcates that requred upstream data does not exst. For example, when you frst create a new Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system, all cells downstream of the Geometry cell appear as Unfulflled because you have not yet specfed a geometry for the system. Refresh Requred ( ) ndcates that upstream data has changed snce the last refresh or update. For example, after you assgn a geometry to the Geometry cell n your new Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system, the Mesh cell appears as Refresh Requred snce the geometry data has not yet been passed from the Geometry cell to the Mesh cell. Attenton Requred ( ) ndcates that the current upstream data has been passed to the cell, however, you must take some acton to proceed. For example, after you launch FLUENT from the Setup cell n a Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system that has a vald mesh, the Setup cell appears as Attenton Requred because addtonal data must be entered n FLUENT before you can calculate a soluton. Update Requred ( ) ndcates that local data has changed and the output of the cell needs to be regenerated. For example, after you launch ANSYS Meshng from the Mesh cell n a Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system that has a vald geometry, the Mesh cell appears as Update Requred because the Mesh cell has all the data t needs to generate a FLUENT mesh fle, but the FLUENT mesh fle has not yet been generated. Up To Date ( ) ndcates that an update has been performed on the cell and no falures have occurred (or an nteractve calculaton has been completed successfully). For example, after FLUENT fnshes performng the number of teratons that you request, the Soluton cell appears as Up-to-Date. Interrupted ( ) ndcates that you have nterrupted an update (or canceled an nteractve calculaton that s n progress). For example, f you select the Cancel button n FLUENT whle t s teratng, FLUENT completes the current teraton and then the Soluton cell appears as Interrupted. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-9
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench Input Changes Pendng ( ) ndcates that the cell s locally up-to-date, but may change when next updated as a result of changes made to upstream cells. For example, f you change the Mesh n an Up-to-Date Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system, the Setup cell appears as Refresh Requred, and the Soluton and Results cells appear as Input Changes Pendng. If a partcular acton fals, Workbench provdes a vsual ndcaton as well. Bref descrptons of the falure states are descrbed below. Refresh Faled, Refresh Requred ( ) ndcates that the last attempt to refresh cell nput data faled, and so the cell needs to be refreshed. Update Faled, Update Requred ( ) ndcates that the last attempt to update the cell and calculate output data faled, and so the cell needs to be updated. Update Faled, Attenton Requred ( ) ndcates that the last attempt to update the cell and calculate output data faled, and so the cell requres attenton. If an acton results n a falure state, you can vew any related error messages n the Messages wndow by clckng the Show Messages button on the lower rght porton of Workbench. 1-10 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.5 Startng FLUENT n Workbench 1.5 Startng FLUENT n Workbench Ths secton descrbes how to start FLUENT n Workbench usng FLUENT-based systems and how you can use FLUENT Launcher wthn Workbench 1.5.1 Startng FLUENT from a FLUENT-Based System You can start ANSYS FLUENT by double-clckng on the Setup cell n a Flud Flow (FLU- ENT) analyss system or a FLUENT component system. FLUENT launches and loads the Setup cell s nput data (e.g., mesh) and the Setup cell s local data, f t exsts (e.g., FLUENT settngs). If no mesh has been specfed, FLUENT launches and wats for your nput. You can also start ANSYS FLUENT by double-clckng on the Soluton cell n a Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system or a FLUENT component system. FLUENT launches and loads the current case and data fles. FLUENT launches and loads the Setup cell s nput data (e.g., mesh), the Setup cell s local data, f t exsts (e.g., FLUENT settngs), and the Soluton cell s ntal data, f t exsts. If no mesh has been specfed, FLUENT launches and wats for your nput. When FLUENT s launched from the Setup cell, t loads only the mesh and settngs that served as the startng pont for your analyss and are assocated wth the Setup cell. In order to load the current case and data fles or the ntal data fle, you must launch FLUENT from the Soluton cell. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-11
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench 1.5.2 Specfyng FLUENT Launcher Settngs Wthn Workbench Wth the release of ANSYS 12.1, you can use FLUENT n Workbench on ether Wndows or Lnux machnes, both nteractvely and n batch mode. You can also start FLUENT on Lnux from a Workbench sesson runnng on Wndows and you can use the same FLUENT-specfc project (and related fles) n Workbench usng both Lnux and Wndows hardware nterchangeably. The nformaton s ths secton s the same for both Wndows and Lnux, except where noted. When you start ANSYS FLUENT from ether type of FLUENT-based system wthn Workbench, FLUENT Launcher wll appear by default. Most FLUENT Launcher settngs are avalable, except for the followng optons: Verson (dsabled) Workng Drectory (dsabled) Use Journal Fle (not avalable) The Do not show ths panel agan opton allows you to bypass FLUENT Launcher for subsequent FLUENT sessons. Ths opton s only avalable when runnng FLUENT n Workbench. When usng LSF to schedule a FLUENT run from Workbench, by default the workng drectory s used for checkpontng. You can specfy an alternate drectory for checkpontng usng the LSB CHKPNT DIR envronment varable. Note that, when usng FLUENT wth Workbench on Lnux, the FLUENT Root Path opton s dsabled n the General tab of FLUENT Launcher. To start your FLUENT smulaton on a Lnux cluster from a Workbench sesson runnng on Wndows, use the Use Remote Lnux Nodes opton n FLUENT Launcher. Ths opton s avalable when the Parallel opton s enabled under Processng Optons. Once ths opton s enabled, the Remote tab s vsble when you clck the Show More>> button. The Remote tab of FLUENT Launcher can only be used for 64-bt Lnux machnes. For more nformaton about FLUENT Launcher and accessng remote Lnux clusters, see the FLUENT User s Gude as well as the separate Addendum to the FLUENT User s Gude. 1-12 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.5 Startng FLUENT n Workbench Specfyng FLUENT Launcher Settngs Usng Cell Propertes You can vew the propertes of a selected cell n Workbench by selectng the Propertes opton under the Vew menu, or by rght-clckng a cell and selectng Propertes from the context menu. The propertes of the selected cell are dsplayed n the Propertes Wndow n Workbench. Fgure 1.5.1: Propertes for FLUENT-Based Systems n Workbench The FLUENT-based system Setup and Soluton cells have the followng propertes that you can set for FLUENT Launcher: Use Setup Launcher Settngs (for Soluton cells only) allows you to specfy that the current systems Soluton cell should use the FLUENT Launcher property settngs from the current system s Setup cell. Precson allows you to choose ether the sngle-precson or the double-precson solver Show Launcher at Startup allows you to show or hde FLUENT Launcher when FLUENT starts. Dsplay Mesh After Readng allows you to show or hde the mesh after the mesh or case/data s read nto FLUENT. Embed Graphcs Wndows allows you to embed the graphcs wndows n the FLUENT applcaton wndow, or to have them free-standng. Use Workbench Color Scheme allows you to use ether the classc black background color n the graphcs wndow, or to use the Workbench color scheme. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-13
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench Setup Complaton Envronment for UDF allows you to specfy compler settngs for complng user-defned functons (UDFs) wth FLUENT. Use Job Scheduler allows you to specfy settngs for runnng FLUENT wth the avalable job scheduler. On Lnux, you can use ether LSF, SGE, or PBS Pro as the job scheduler. On Wndows, you can use the Mcrosoft Job Scheduler, or, when Run Parallel Verson and Use Remote Lnux Nodes are selected, you can use the LSF, SGE, or PBS Pro job schedulers. Run Parallel Verson allows you to choose to run the parallel verson of FLUENT or not. UDF Complaton Scrpt Path (f Setup Complaton Envronment for UDF s selected) allows you to specfy the path to the UDF complaton scrpt. Use Remote Lnux Nodes (avalable only when Run Parallel Verson s selected) allows you to run your FLUENT smulaton on 64-bt Lnux machnes. If Run Parallel Verson s selected, the followng addtonal propertes are avalable: Number of Processors allows you to set the number of processors you wsh to use for the parallel calculatons (e.g., 2, 4, etc.). Interconnect allows you to set the nterconnects you wsh to use for the parallel calculatons (e.g., ethernet, myrnet, nfnband, etc.). MPI Type allows you to set the MPI type you wsh to use for the parallel calculatons (e.g., MPICH2, HP, etc.). Use Shared Memory allows you to specfy f shared memory s to be used or not. Machne Specfcaton (f Use Shared Memory s not selected) allows you to specfy a lst of machne names, or a fle that contans machne names. Machne Lst (f Use Shared Memory s not selected and Machne Lst s selected as the Machne Specfcaton) allows you to specfy a lst of machne names to run the parallel job. Machne Flename (f Use Shared Memory s not selected and Fle Contanng Machne Lst s selected as the Machne Specfcaton) allows you to specfy the name of the fle that contans a lst of machnes to run the parallel job. If Use Remote Lnux Nodes s selected, the followng addtonal propertes are avalable (for 64-bt Lnux machnes only): Remote FLUENT Root Path allows you to specfy the remote FLUENT Lnux nstallaton root path. 1-14 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.5 Startng FLUENT n Workbench Use Specfed Remote Workng Drectory allows you to specfy a drectory other than temp drectory as the workng drectory for the remote Lnux nodes. When ths property s selected, you can specfy the drectory n the Remote Workng Drectory property that appears. Remote Spawn Command allows you to specfy the command to connect to the remote node (the default s RSH). Use Remote Cluster Head Node allows you to specfy the remote node that FLUENT wll connect to for spawnng (e.g., va rsh or ssh). When ths property s selected, you can specfy the remote node n the Remote Host Name property that appears. If Use Job Scheduler s selected, the followng addtonal propertes are avalable: Computer Cluster Head Node Name allow you to specfy the name of the compute cluster head node. Start When Resources Are Avalable allows you to start the job when resources are avalable or not. Create Job Submsson XML allows you to create the job submsson XML fle. Job Submsson XML Fle (f Create Job Submsson XML s selected) allows you to specfy the name of the job submsson XML fle. If Use Job Scheduler and Use Remote Lnux Nodes are selected, the followng addtonal propertes are avalable: Job Scheduler allow you to specfy the job scheduler for the remote Lnux nodes. Avalable optons are LSF (the default), SGE, or PBS Pro. If LSF s selected as the job scheduler, the followng addtonal propertes are avalable: Use LSF Queue allows you to use an LSF queue. LSF Queue (when Use LSF Queue s selected) allows you to specfy the name of the LSF queue. Use Checkpontng allows you to use checkpontng wth LSF. Enable Automatc Checkpontng (when Use Checkpontng s selected) allows you to automatcally checkpont wthn a specfc perod of tme. Checkpontng Perod (when Use Checkpontng and Enable Automatc Checkpontng are selected) allows you to specfy a tme perod for automatc checkpontng. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-15
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench When usng LSF to schedule a FLUENT run from Workbench, by default the workng drectory s used for checkpontng. You can specfy an alternate drectory for checkpontng usng the LSB CHKPNT DIR envronment varable. If SGE s selected as the job scheduler, the followng addtonal propertes are avalable: SGE Qmaster allows you to set the machne n the SGE job submsson host lst. SGE Queue allows you to set the queue where you want to submt your FLUENT jobs. Leave ths feld blank f you want to use the default queue. SGE PE allows you to set the parallel envronment where you want to submt your FLUENT jobs. Leave ths feld blank f you want to use the default parallel envronment. Use SGE Settngs allows you to use SGE settngs. SGE Settngs (when Use SGE Settngs s selected) allows you to specfy SGE settngs. When runnng FLUENT n Workbench va SGE, there may be nstances when not enough tme s allotted for FLUENT to start. By default, Workbench performs two steps: startng the FLUENT process and establshng ntal contact, wth a default wat tme of one mnute; completng the FLUENT start up process and establshng a fnal connecton (e.g., to spawn parallel nodes, to checkout lcenses, etc.), wth a default wat tme of fve mnutes. You can change the watng tme ncrements for each step by defnng the FLUENT WB MAX STARTUP WAIT envronment varable before startng Workbench. Note that you cannot defne ths envronment varable wthn FLUENT Launcher. The value of ths envronment varable s equvalent to the wat tme n mnutes for each start up step. So, the overall wat tme s double the value specfed for the envronment varable. Fractons are allowed as values for the envronment varable, and any value less than or equal to zero wll let Workbench wat ndefntely for FLUENT to start. Note that whle Workbench s watng for FLUENT to start, the Workbench nterface s locked, and f, for some reason FLUENT fals to start, you wll have to manually kll the Workbench sesson. These propertes are the same as the settngs wthn FLUENT Launcher. For more nformaton about FLUENT Launcher, see the FLUENT User s Gude as well as the separate Addendum to the FLUENT User s Gude. 1-16 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.6 Savng Your Work n FLUENT wth Workbench Copyng FLUENT Launcher Property Settngs Typcally, FLUENT Launcher settngs are specfed n the FLUENT Launcher dalog box when FLUENTs launched from the Setup cell. By default, the Soluton cell uses the same FLUENT Launcher property settngs as the Setup cell. If you want the Soluton cell s FLUENT Launcher settngs to be dfferent than those specfed for the Setup cell, you can dsable the Use Setup Launcher Settngs property settng (see Secton 1.5.2: Specfyng FLUENT Launcher Settngs Wthn Workbench) and then set the Soluton cell s FLUENT Launcher property settngs wthout mpactng the settngs for the Setup cell. You can copy the Setup cell s FLUENT Launcher settngs to the Soluton cell by selectng the Copy Launcher settngs to Soluton cell opton from the Setup cell s context menu. Lkewse, you can also copy the Soluton cell s FLUENT Launcher settngs to the Setup cell by selectng the Copy Launcher settngs to Setup cell opton from the Soluton cell s context menu (avalable only when the Use Setup Launcher Settngs property settng s dsabled). Note that when the Use Setup Launcher Settngs property s enabled, the Soluton cells dstnct set of FLUENT Launcher settngs are retaned n case you later decde to dsable the Use Setup Launcher Settngs property. 1.6 Savng Your Work n FLUENT wth Workbench Data that s read nto and wrtten by FLUENT when t s run wthn Workbench s splt nto two parts: Setup data Soluton data Setup data s the data used to start a smulaton over from the begnnng. Ths data s assocated wth the Setup cell and ncludes the mesh (.msh) fle and the settngs (.set) fle. The settngs fle s a new fle used when FLUENT 12 s run under Workbench. It contans the case settngs but does not contan mesh data. The settngs fle and the mesh fle are read by FLUENT whenever FLUENT s launched from the Setup cell. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-17
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench Note that sometmes, nstead of a mesh fle, a case fle (.cas) s used to represent the mesh. In ths stuaton, FLUENT reads the case fle frst and then reads the settngs fle f t exsts. Therefore, the settngs stored n the settngs fle wll overwrte any settngs that mght be contaned n the case fle. Soluton data s the data that results from performng a calculaton and s used to restart a smulaton from exstng data. Ths data s assocated wth the Soluton cell and ncludes the current case (.cas) fle and the current data (.dat) fle. The case fle and the data fle are read by FLUENT whenever FLUENT s launched from the Soluton cell. When workng n Workbench, your work n FLUENT s automatcally saved as needed. For example, whenever you close FLUENT or save your Workbench project, your unsaved data s automatcally saved. You can save your Workbench project drectly from FLUENT n two ways: 1. Select the Save Project opton under the Fle menu wthn FLUENT. Fle Save Project 2. Select the Save Project opton from the Wrte a Fle con n the FLUENT toolbar. Alternatvely, you can also save your Workbench project by selectng the Save opton under the Fle menu wthn Workbench or by selectng the Save con from the Workbench toolbar. 1-18 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.7 Extng FLUENT and Workbench 1.7 Extng FLUENT and Workbench You can end your FLUENT sesson by usng the Close FLUENT opton under the Fle menu. Fle Close FLUENT You can end your Workbench sesson by usng the Ext opton under the Fle menu. Fle Ext All open applcatons that are assocated wth your Workbench sesson, ncludng any open nstances of ANSYS FLUENT, are automatcally closed upon extng Workbench. If there s any unsaved data n Workbench or any of the open applcatons assocated wth your Workbench sesson, you wll be prompted to save your project before extng Workbench. There are several other crcumstances n whch open nstances of FLUENT as well as other applcatons are automatcally closed: Whenever you close the current project n Workbench, all open applcatons are automatcally closed. Whenever you open a dfferent project n Workbench, all open applcatons assocated wth the orgnal project are automatcally closed. Whenever a system s deleted, all open applcatons assocated wth that system are automatcally closed. Whenever data s reset or cleared from a cell, all open applcatons assocated wth that cell are automatcally closed. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-19
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench 1.8 An Example of a FLUENT Analyss n Workbench Ths example descrbes when the fles that are generated and used by FLUENT are wrtten and how the cell states change as you work wth a FLUENT-based system n Workbench. 1. Add a new Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system to the Project Schematc. The state of the Geometry cell s Attenton Requred and that the states for the Mesh, Setup, Soluton, and Results cells are Unfulflled. 2. Import a geometry fle by usng the context menu on the Geometry cell. The state of the Geometry cell becomes Up-to-Date and the state of the Mesh cell becomes Refresh Requred. 3. Double-clck on the Mesh cell. The ANSYS Meshng applcaton launches and loads the geometry fle. The state of the Mesh cell becomes Update Requred. 1-20 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.8 An Example of a FLUENT Analyss n Workbench 4. In the ANSYS Meshng applcaton, specfy settngs for the mesh, then select the Update command. The mesh s generated, the mesh (.msh) fle s wrtten, the state of the Mesh cell becomes Up-to-Date, and the state of the Setup cell becomes Refresh Requred. 5. Double-clck on the Setup cell. FLUENT launches and loads the mesh fle. The state of the Setup cell becomes Attenton Requred. 6. In FLUENT, specfy boundary condtons, ntalze the soluton, and enter a nonzero number of teratons on the Run Calculaton task page. The state of the Setup cell becomes Up-to-Date, and the state of the Soluton cell becomes Refresh Requred. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-21
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench 7. In the FLUENT applcaton, select the Calculate button. The settngs (.set) fle s wrtten and teratons begn. The state of the Soluton cell becomes Update Requred. Iteratons are completed, or the soluton meets the convergence crtera. The state of the Soluton cell becomes Up-to-Date and the state of the Results cell becomes Refresh Requred. 8. Double-clck on the Results cell. ANSYS CFD-Post launches. The case (.cas) and data (.dat) fles are wrtten, ANSYS CFD-Post loads the case and data fles, and the state of the Results cell becomes Up-to-Date. 1-22 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
1.9 Gettng Help for FLUENT n Workbench 1.9 Gettng Help for FLUENT n Workbench Workbench offers three levels of help: Quck help - avalable for most cells n a system. Clck the blue trangle n the bottom rght corner of the cell to see a bref help descrpton on that cell. For FLUENT-based systems, FLUENT-specfc quck help s avalable for the Setup and Soluton cells, provdng you wth nstructons for proceedng further. Sdebar or context-senstve help - avalable at any tme by clckng <F1>. Onlne help - avalable from the Help menu, or from any of the lnks n the quck help or sdebar help. For more nformaton about Workbench help, see the on-lne documentaton. FLUENT documentaton and help s avalable from the FLUENT menu once the FLUENT applcaton s runnng. The documentaton s automatcally nstalled when you nstall Workbench. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 1-23
Gettng Started Wth FLUENT n Workbench 1-24 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
Chapter 2. Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench Ths chapter provdes nstructons for usng FLUENT n Workbench. Secton 2.1: Importng Mesh, Case, and Data Fles Secton 2.2: Usng the Update Command Secton 2.3: Refreshng FLUENT Input Data Secton 2.4: Deletng Soluton and Setup Cell Data for FLUENT-Based Systems Secton 2.5: Interruptng, Restartng, and Contnung a Calculaton Secton 2.6: Connectng Systems n Workbench Secton 2.7: Duplcatng FLUENT-Based Systems Secton 2.8: Changng the Settngs and Mesh n FLUENT Secton 2.9: Case Modfcaton Strateges wth FLUENT and Workbench Secton 2.10: Workng Wth Input and Output Parameters n Workbench Secton 2.11: Vewng Your FLUENT Data Usng ANSYS CFD-Post Secton 2.12: Understandng the Fle Structure for FLUENT n Workbench Secton 2.13: Workng wth ANSYS Lcensng Secton 2.14: Usng Custom Systems Secton 2.15: Usng Journalng and Scrptng wth FLUENT n Workbench Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-1
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench 2.1 Importng Mesh, Case, and Data Fles You can drectly mport a FLUENT case or mesh fle nto a FLUENT-based system by rght-clckng on the Setup cell and selectng the Import FLUENT Case... opton from the context menu. You wll be prompted for a specfc case or mesh fle. After you select a fle, FLUENT launches and loads the fle you specfed. If you mport a case fle, the physcal model settngs, boundary condton nformaton, materal propertes and solver settngs are also loaded nto FLUENT. When you mport a case fle n whch the number of teratons (or tme-steps) specfed n the Run Calculaton task page s greater than 0, the state of the Setup cell becomes Up-to-Date and the state of the Soluton cell becomes Refresh Requred. When you mport a mesh fle or a case fle n whch the number of teratons (or tmesteps) specfed n the Run Calculaton task page s 0, the state of the Setup cell becomes Attenton Requred because addtonal nformaton must be specfed n FLUENT before you can proceed. If you mport a case or mesh fle nto a system that contans a Mesh cell, you are nformed that the mported nformaton wll not be compatble wth the nformaton comng from the Mesh cell and asked whether the Mesh cell (and Geometry cell, f t also exsts) should be deleted and replaced by the mesh from the mported fle. If you mport a case or mesh fle nto a system that has a connecton to a Mesh cell n an upstream system, you are nformed that the mesh s beng provded to the current system from an upstream system and asked whether the connecton should be deleted and the mesh replaced wth the mesh from the mported fle. If a case or mesh fle s mported nto a Setup cell that already has settngs nformaton assocated wth t, the settngs nformaton s deleted when the new fle s mported. You can also drectly mport a FLUENT data fle nto a FLUENT-based system by rghtclckng on the Soluton cell and selectng the Import Intal Data... opton from the context menu. You wll be prompted for a data fle. Importng a data fle does not affect the state of the system. Ths opton s not avalable f FLUENT s already open or an ncomng connecton s provdng data. When case and data fles are mported nto FLUENT, they are treated as start-up fles and not results fles. Therefore, when you mport a case and data fle from a prevous calculaton, the state of the Soluton cell becomes Refresh Requred and not Up-to-Date. 2-2 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.1 Importng Mesh, Case, and Data Fles In order to post-process the results from an exstng set of case and data fles n ANSYS CFD-Post, at least one teraton (or tme-step) must be performed n FLUENT from wthn Workbench n order to brng the state of the Soluton cell to Up-to-Date. Alternatvely, f you do not ntend to perform any calculatons, you could create a Results component system, double-clck on ts Results cell to open ANSYS CFD-Post and then load the FLUENT data fle usng the Load Results opton under the Fle menu n ANSYS CFD-Post. Alternatvely, you can also mport pre-exstng mesh, case, and data fles from wthn FLUENT by usng one of the followng optons: Fle Import Case... Fle Import Data... Fle Import Case and Data... When mesh, case, and data fles are mported from wthn FLUENT usng these commands, the behavor s exactly the same as when fles are mported from the Project Schematc. In addton, you can also mport the mesh from pre-exstng mesh and case fles from wthn FLUENT by usng the followng opton: Fle Import Mesh... When usng ths command, you are gven two optons: Dscard Case, Read New Mesh - ths dscards any settngs nformaton currently n FLUENT and mports the specfed fle. If the specfed fle s a case fle, the settngs nformaton from that case fle s also mported. Replace Mesh - ths preserves the settngs nformaton currently n FLUENT and mports only the mesh from the specfed fle. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-3
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench 2.2 Usng the Update Command The Update command s avalable from the context menu of all cells, from the context menu for the system, and from the Workbench Toolbar, the Workbench Tools menu, and the context menu for the Project Schematc. When selected from a cell, the Update command updates the current cell and all upstream cells that must be updated to brng the current cell Up-to-Date. When a cell s updated, any new upstream data s passed to t before performng the update command. When selected from the system, the Update command updates all of the out-of-date cells n the current system, as well as any cells n upstream systems that must be updated to brng the current system Up-to-Date. When selected from the Workbench Toolbar, the Workbench Tools menu, or the context menu for the Project Schematc, the Update command updates all out-of-date cells n the project. When updatng the Soluton cell n a FLUENT system, the followng steps take place: 1. FLUENT launches n the background. 2. FLUENT performs ether the number of teratons (or tme-steps) specfed n the settngs or case fle or the number of teratons requred to reach convergence. 3. FLUENT wrtes the case and data fles. 4. FLUENT exts. When an update s performed on a Soluton cell and a FLUENT sesson from the same system as that Soluton cell s open, the calculaton wll be performed n that open FLUENT sesson. Ths may not result n the acton that you ntended, therefore t s recommended that you close any open FLUENT sessons before executng an Update command. For example, f you have specfed ntal data usng ether a connecton from an upstream soluton cell or by mportng ntal data nto the Soluton cell and you open FLUENT from the Setup cell of the system, the ntal data s not loaded (see Secton 1.5.1: Startng FLUENT from a FLUENT-Based System). If you subsequently perform an Update, the calculaton wll be performed n the open FLUENT sesson and the ntal data you specfed wll not be used as the startng pont. The Update command s partcularly useful when you make changes to upstream data that mpact downstream data. For example, f you start wth an Up-to-Date Flud Flow (FLUENT) analyss system and then modfy the mesh n the ANSYS Meshng applcaton, you can smply select Update from the system s context menu to generate the new results. 2-4 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.2 Usng the Update Command When performng an Update, you can specfy whether the Soluton cell n a FLUENTbased system should be updated startng from the current data fle or from the ntal data. Ths s specfed by selectng or deselectng the Update from Current Soluton Data f Possble opton from the context menu of the Soluton cell. Ths opton s enabled when there s a check mark to ts left. Ths opton s always enabled when you create a new system. Intal data can be specfed n four ways: On the Soluton Intalzaton task page n FLUENT. Import an ntal data fle nto the Soluton cell or the FLUENT applcaton (see Secton 2.1: Importng Mesh, Case, and Data Fles). Create a connecton from an upstream Soluton cell (see Secton 2.6: Connectng Systems n Workbench). Specfy a case modfcaton strategy (see Secton 2.9: Case Modfcaton Strateges wth FLUENT and Workbench). If you have mported an ntal data fle or created a connecton to specfy ntal data, that data wll overrde the ntalzaton method specfed on the Soluton Intalzaton task page. If you have a case modfcaton strategy defned, the ntalzaton step n that strategy wll always be performed regardless of whether ntal data s specfed n any other way. If the Soluton cell n a FLUENT-based system s connected to the Soluton cell n an upstream system, the Import Intal Data... opton s not avalable from the context menu of the downstream Soluton cell. If you want to mport ntal data nto the downstream Soluton cell, you must delete the connecton frst. Smlarly, f the Soluton cell already has mported ntal data, a connecton cannot be made to that cell from the Soluton cell n an upstream system. Furthermore, you cannot create a connecton from the Soluton cell n an upstream system to any Soluton cell n whch you have ever mported ntal data. When you select Update from the Setup cell n a FLUENT-based system and a FLUENT sesson s not already open, a FLUENT sesson launches n background mode. After the Update s complete, the background sesson of FLUENT remans open and wats for you to update the Soluton cell. To close the open background sesson of FLUENT wthout updatng the Soluton cell, you can select the Close FLUENT Sesson opton from the Setup cell s context menu. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-5
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench There s also an Update command n the ANSYS Meshng applcaton whch generates the mesh and creates the nput fles requred by downstream cells. The Generate Mesh command n the ANSYS Meshng applcaton generates the mesh but does not produce any nput fles. If a connecton s made from an up-to-date Mesh cell, the state of the Mesh cell may become Update Requred, ndcatng that the ANSYS Meshng applcaton needs to generate an addtonal nput fle. Ths fle can be generated by selectng the Update opton from the context menu of the Mesh cell. If you try to open FLUENT before the Mesh cell s updated, a warnng message s dsplayed nformng you that you must update the Mesh cell before you can start FLUENT, snce the mesh fle requred for FLUENT does not yet exst. Whether you edt the project through the Setup or Soluton cells, your project s post-processng settngs n FLUENT (ncludng any surface defntons that you may have created), are saved at the start of teraton or when you close FLUENT. When FLUENT s later opened from ether cell, these new settngs wll be avalable. Changes made to post-processng settngs n FLUENT do not affect cell state. 2.3 Refreshng FLUENT Input Data You can refresh the nput data for a cell by rght-clckng on the cell and selectng the Refresh opton from the context menu. The Refresh command passes modfed upstream data to the cell but does not conduct any long-runnng operatons to regenerate the cell s output data. For example, you can refresh the mesh by rght-clckng on the Setup cell n Workbench and selectng the Refresh opton from the context menu. The state of the Setup cell becomes Update Requred. It wll become Up-to-Date the next tme you launch FLUENT from the Setup cell, or f you select the Update opton from the context menu of the Setup cell. You can refresh the nput data for the Setup cell n a FLUENT-based system by usng ether the Refresh command from the cell s context menu or by selectng the Refresh Input Data opton n the FLUENT Fle menu f FLUENT s already open. Selectng the Update opton from the context menu performs a Refresh command (f needed) before performng the Update command. You do not need to perform a Refresh and an Update n two separate steps. 2-6 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.4 Deletng Soluton and Setup Cell Data for FLUENT-Based Systems If you open FLUENT after makng a modfcaton to the mesh and wthout refreshng the nput data, you wll be asked whether you want to load the modfed mesh before FLUENT launches. If FLUENT s open and you make a modfcaton to the mesh, you wll be nformed that the upstream mesh has changed and asked whether you want to load the new mesh before proceedng. 2.4 Deletng Soluton and Setup Cell Data for FLUENT-Based Systems Ths secton descrbes how to delete soluton and setup data for your FLUENT-based systems by usng the Clear Generated Data command and the Reset command. 2.4.1 Usng the Clear Generated Data Command from the Soluton Cell of FLUENT-Based Systems For ether type of FLUENT-based system, you can remove all generated case and data fles from a Soluton cell by rght-clckng on the Soluton cell and selectng the Clear Generated Data opton from the context menu. All generated case and data fles assocated wth the cell are deleted and the FLUENT applcaton s closed f t s open. If the Soluton cell s Up-to-Date, t wll become Update Requred when the Clear Generated Data command s executed. 2.4.2 Usng the Reset Command from the Setup and Soluton Cells of FLUENT-Based Systems For ether type of FLUENT-based systems, you can remove all local and generated data from the Setup cell or from the Soluton cell by rght-clckng on ether cell and selectng the Reset opton from the context menu. For Setup cells, the Reset opton removes the Setup cell s references to the mesh fle, deletes the settngs fle assocated wth the Setup cell, sets the cell property values to ther defaults, and closes the FLUENT applcaton f t s open. If the Setup cell s Up-to- Date, t wll become Refresh Requred when the Reset command s executed. For Soluton cells, the Reset opton deletes all case and data fles (ncludng mported ntal data fles) assocated wth the cell, sets the cell property values to ther defaults, and closes the FLUENT applcaton f t s open. If the Soluton cell s Up-to-Date, t wll become Refresh Requred when the Reset command s executed. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-7
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench 2.5 Interruptng, Restartng, and Contnung a Calculaton You can nterrupt the calculaton n an nteractve FLUENT sesson by usng the Cancel button or by typng <CTRL-C> n the FLUENT console wndow. You can also nterrupt a FLUENT calculaton n the background by usng the Progress Montor n Workbench. The Progress Montor s useful f you would lke some vsual feedback on the progress of your calculatons. Typcally, the Progress Montor s hdden, but can be dsplayed at the bottom of the Project Schematc by togglng the Show Progress button. Fgure 2.5.1: The Show Progress Button n Workbench 2-8 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.5 Interruptng, Restartng, and Contnung a Calculaton When the Progress Montor s dsplayed, the Show Progress button becomes the Hde Progress button, so the button can be used to toggle the dsplay of the Progress Montor. Fgure 2.5.2: The Hde Progress Button, the Progress Montor and the Stop con n Workbench To nterrupt an on-gong FLUENT calculaton from Workbench, select the con n the Progress Montor (see Fgure 2.5.2). Ths wll dsplay a prompt, askng f you would lke to nterrupt or stop the calculatons. Fgure 2.5.3: The Workbench Prompt Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-9
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench Selectng Interrupt stops the calculaton at the next pont where data can be safely stored for later use. Selectng Stop stops the calculaton mmedately wthout concern for whether data assocated wth the current acton can be stored. When the calculaton s nterrupted from wthn an nteractve FLUENT sesson, t always stops the data at the next pont where data can be safely stored for later use. When a calculaton s nterrupted, the state of the Soluton cell becomes Interrupted. If a background calculaton s nterrupted, FLUENT wrtes the case and data fle and then closes. You can restart a prevously nterrupted FLUENT calculaton from wthn Workbench by rght-clckng on the Soluton cell and selectng the Contnue Calculaton opton from the context menu. Ths wll allow you to restart the calculaton from the current case and data fles, performng the total number of teratons (or tme-steps) specfed n the case fle. If you nterrupt a calculaton, revew the results, and decde that the soluton s converged, you can force the Soluton cell state to be Up-to-Date by rght-clckng on the Soluton cell and selectng the Accept Interrupted Soluton as Up-to-Date opton from the context menu. 2-10 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.6 Connectng Systems n Workbench 2.6 Connectng Systems n Workbench Workbench allows you to create connectons between multple systems that enable the systems to access the same data. Ths s useful, for nstance, when you want to compare the results from multple FLUENT-based systems n the same ANSYS CFD-Post sesson. In ths case, you would connect the varous Soluton cells to one Results cell (ether n one of your FLUENT-based systems or n a separate Results system). When you double-clck on that Results cell, the results from all connected systems wll be loaded nto ANSYS CFD-Post at the same tme. Workbench supports two dfferent types of connectons: Connectons that share data are used when the nputs and outputs of the two connected cells are dentcal. Shared data connectons can only be created between two cells of the same type. A shared data connecton s represented on the Project Schematc by a lne wth a square on ts rght (target) sde (see Fgure 2.6.1). Connectons that transfer data are used when the output of one cell s used as the nput to the connected cell. Transfer data connectons are usually created between two cells of dfferent types. One excepton s that a transfer data connecton can be used between the Soluton cells of two FLUENT-based systems when you want to use the current data from one system as the ntal data for the other system. A transfer data connecton s represented n the Project Schematc by a lne wth a crcle on ts rght (target) sde (see Fgure 2.6.1). There are four ways to create connected systems n Workbench. Rght-clck on a cell n one system, then drag and drop t onto a compatble cell n another system. Rght-clck on a system n the Toolbox, then drag and drop t onto a compatble system n the Project Schematc. Create a duplcate system (see Secton 2.7: Duplcatng FLUENT-Based Systems). Rght-clck on a cell and select one of the optons under Transfer Data From New... or Transfer Data To New... (these optons are not avalable for all cells). When you hghlght a system n the Toolbox, Workbench hghlghts all of the compatble drop targets n the Project Schematc. As you move the mouse over a drop target, t s hghlghted n red and a message appears n the Project Schematc that nforms you what the result wll be f you drop the system onto that target. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-11
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench There are usually several compatble drop targets on empty space n the Project Schematc. Droppng the system onto one of these targets wll create a standalone system n that locaton. Smlarly, when you hghlght a cell and begn to drag t, Workbench hghlghts all of the compatble drop targets n the Project Schematc. As you move the mouse over a drop target, t s hghlghted n red and a message appears n the Project Schematc that nforms you what the result wll be f you drop the cell onto that target. Fgure 2.6.1: Connected Systems Wthn Workbench For more nformaton about connectng systems, see the Workbench on-lne help. 2-12 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.6 Connectng Systems n Workbench 2.6.1 Connectng Systems by Draggng and Droppng a System from the Toolbox onto Another System The followng example demonstrates the procedure for creatng connected systems by draggng a system from the Toolbox and droppng t onto a compatble system n the Project Schematc. 1. Startng from a project wth an up-to-date Mesh component system, select the FLUENT-based component system from the Toolbox; the compatble drop targets are hghlghted n green. 2. Drag the system over the Project Schematc and pause over the Mesh cell of the Mesh component system; the Mesh cell target s hghlghted n red and a message nforms you that selectng that target wll transfer the data from cell A3 to the new system. 3. Drop the system on the drop target and a transfer data connecton s created between the Mesh cell A3 and the Setup cell B1. Note that Mesh cell A3 becomes Update Requred, ths s because the nput data for the new system has not yet been generated by the ANSYS Meshng applcaton. If you try to open FLUENT before the Mesh cell s updated, a warnng message s dsplayed nformng you that you must update the Mesh cell before you can start FLUENT, snce the mesh fle requred for FLUENT does not yet exst. 4. Rght-clck on Mesh cell A3 and select Update. 5. Double-clck on Setup cell B1; FLUENT launches and loads the mesh from cell A3. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-13
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench Fgure 2.6.2: Applyng the Mesh Settngs to a New FLUENT-Based Component System by Draggng and Droppng Systems In the prevous example, a transfer data connecton was created. Shared data connectons can also be creatng by draggng a system from the Toolbox and droppng t onto a compatble system n the Project Schematc. The type of connecton that Workbench creates depends on whch drop target you select. The red prevew messages n the Project Schematc nform you of the type of connecton(s) that wll result from your acton. 2-14 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.6 Connectng Systems n Workbench When a FLUENT-based component system s dragged from the Toolbox onto the Soluton cell of an exstng FLUENT-based analyss system, you are presented wth two choces: Transfer Soluton Data or Transfer Mesh Data. The connecton that s made between the two systems s based on opton selected. Fgure 2.6.3: Transferrng Soluton Data or Mesh Data to a New FLUENT- Based Component System by Draggng and Droppng Systems The mesh from the case fle assocated wth the Soluton cell of a FLUENTbased analyss system or component system can be transferred to the Setup cell of a FLUENT-based component system only and not the Setup cell of a FLUENT-based analyss system. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-15
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench 2.6.2 Connectng Systems By Draggng and Droppng FLUENT-Based Soluton Cells Onto Other Systems The followng fgures demonstrate the procedure for creatng a transfer data connecton by draggng a Soluton cell from a FLUENT-based system and droppng t onto a compatble cell n another system: Fgure 2.6.4: An Example of Two Unconnected Systems 1. Clck and Drag Flud Flow (FLUENT) Soluton Cell (A5) 2. Drop Onto Results Cell n the Results System (B2) Fgure 2.6.5: An Example of Draggng and Droppng a Soluton Cell Onto Another Compatble Cell 2-16 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.6 Connectng Systems n Workbench Fgure 2.6.6: An Example of Two Connected Systems The followng table lsts the compatble drop targets for the Soluton cell from a FLUENTbased system: Table 2.6.1: Connectng Systems By Draggng and Droppng Cells Between Systems From Cell Soluton To Cell FLUENT: Setup FLUENT: Soluton Flud Flow (FLUENT): Soluton Flud Flow (FLUENT): Results CFX: Results Flud Flow (CFX): Results Vsta TF: Results Results: Results Statc Structural (ABAQUS): Setup Statc Structural (Samcef): Setup Shape Optmzaton (ANSYS): Setup Statc Structural (ANSYS): Setup Steady-State Thermal (ANSYS): Setup Transent Structural (ANSYS): Setup Thermal-Electrc (ANSYS): Setup Transent Thermal (ANSYS): Setup Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-17
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench 2.7 Duplcatng FLUENT-Based Systems Workbench allows you to create a duplcate of a system so that you can set up multple, smlar systems and analyze them at the same tme. For nstance, f you would lke to study the dfferences n the flud flow between two slghtly dfferent geometres, then you can create, set up, and solve a sngle flud flow analyss system, duplcate the entre system, change the geometry n the duplcate system and perform another flud flow analyss on the new geometry. You can create a duplcate of a FLUENT-based system by performng the followng steps: 1. In the Project Schematc, rght-clck on the system header to open the system s context menu. 2. Select Duplcate from the context menu. A copy of the orgnal FLUENT-based system s created n the Project Schematc. All data assocated wth the FLUENT-based system, except for any case, data, and ntal data fles assocated wth the Soluton cell, are coped to the new system. The states of the Geometry, Mesh, and Setup cells n the new system wll be the same as the states of the cells n the orgnal system. The state of the Soluton and Results cells n the new system wll be dfferent than those of the orgnal system f the orgnal system had case and data fles assocated wth ts Soluton cell. In addton, you can use the Duplcate command to create a duplcate of a FLUENT-based system n whch the data n the Geometry cells or the data n both the Geometry cells and the Mesh cells s shared between the two systems rather than coped. To create a duplcate system n whch the geometry s shared between the orgnal and new system: 1. In the Project Schematc, rght-clck on the Mesh cell n the system you want to duplcate to open the context menu. 2. Select Duplcate from the context menu. A copy of the orgnal FLUENT-based flud flow system s created n the Project Schematc. A shared data connecton s created between the Geometry cell n the orgnal system and thegeometry cell n the new system. 2-18 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.8 Changng the Settngs and Mesh n FLUENT To create a duplcate system n whch both the geometry and the mesh are shared between the orgnal and new system: 1. In the Project Schematc, rght-clck on the Setup cell or any cell below t n the system you want to duplcate to open the context menu. 2. Select Duplcate from the context menu. A copy of the orgnal FLUENT-based flud flow system s created n the Project Schematc. Two shared data connectons are created: one between the Geometry cell n the orgnal system and the Geometry cell n the new system, and the other between the Mesh cell n the orgnal system and the Mesh cell n the new system. 2.8 Changng the Settngs and Mesh n FLUENT In order to allow you to use the Update command (see Secton 2.2: Usng the Update Command) when changes are made to your project, FLUENT must know whch settngs changes should be stored as part of the Setup cell s data (and therefore used durng an update) and whch settngs changes should only be reflected n the results data that s assocated wth the Soluton cell. Please note that changes made to the mesh n FLUENT are not settngs and cannot be automatcally re-appled when the Update command s used. Ths ncludes all changes that affect the mesh ncludng changes to the name, type, or number of zones (.e., splttng and/or mergng), or changes that otherwse change the mesh extensons, topology, or orentaton. In order to address these ssues, f you make changes to the mesh and/or settngs n FLUENT, you may be prompted when you attempt to calculate, close FLUENT, or save the project from FLUENT. The dalog boxes that appear (descrbed n more detal below) allow you to select an acton or to cancel the operaton. Each dalog contans a More Informaton button that allows you to obtan more nformaton on the problem that caused you to be prompted as well as the courses of acton you can choose dependng on your ntent. If you save the project from an applcaton other than FLUENT or from the Project Schematc, you wll not be prompted; FLUENT wll automatcally perform the default acton for each dalog box descrbed below. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-19
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench 2.8.1 Changng Case and Mesh Settngs Before Begnnng a Calculaton If the mesh has not been changed usng tools n FLUENT (e.g., scalng, converson to polyhedra, adapton, merge, splt, etc.), any changes to the settngs are automatcally saved to the settngs (.set) fle. If the mesh has been changed usng tools n FLUENT and the mesh was mported nto the FLUENT applcaton or the system s Setup cell, any changes to the settngs are automatcally saved to the settngs (.set) fle. In addton, a case fle s saved and regstered to the Setup cell to represent the modfed mesh. If the mesh has been changed usng tools n FLUENT and the mesh was provded to the system s Setup cell by an upstream cell, you are prompted wth the followng dalog: Fgure 2.8.1: The Mesh has changed! Dalog Snce the mesh was provded to the system s Setup cell by an upstream cell, the orgnal mesh cannot be replaced by the modfed mesh wthout also makng changes to the Project Schematc. Snce there are several ways n whch the schematc can be modfed, FLUENT does not provde a way to do ths automatcally. You can choose any of the followng actons: Select OK n the warnng dalog. Any changes to the settngs wll be saved to the settngs fle. The acton you requested when you were prompted wll proceed. If you had selected to calculate, the teratons (or tme-steps) wll be performed on the modfed mesh. If you had selected to close FLUENT or save the project, the modfed mesh wll be stored n the case fle that s wrtten as a result of ether of those actons. If you open FLUENT from the Setup cell, or update or refresh the Setup or Soluton cell from the Project Schematc, the modfed mesh wll be replaced wth the mesh provded by the upstream cell. To calculate usng the modfed mesh, ether open FLUENT from the Soluton cell or select Contnue Calculaton from the Soluton cell s context menu. 2-20 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.8 Changng the Settngs and Mesh n FLUENT If you specfed settngs before you changed the mesh, you must also verfy that those settngs are consstent wth the modfed mesh. If you want to use the modfed mesh as the startng pont for another analyss, smply create a new FLUENT-based system and mport the new case fle that contans the modfed mesh nto ts Setup cell. Select Cancel n the warnng dalog and create a case modfcaton strategy that automatcally performs the desred mesh modfcaton steps (as well as any settngs changes that are dependent on the modfed mesh) before calculatng (see Secton 2.9: Case Modfcaton Strateges wth FLUENT and Workbench). Ths wll allow you to automatcally repeat the desred mesh modfcatons every tme you perform an Update or restart the calculaton from the Setup cell. If you plan to make modfcatons to your mesh n FLUENT (such as scalng, rotatng, or convertng to polyhedra) before performng any calculatons, and you do not requre any change made upstream of the FLUENT Setup cell to be propagated to the mesh n the future, you should mport the mesh you plan to modfy drectly nto the Setup cell of a FLUENT-based analyss or component system. 2.8.2 Changng Case and Mesh Settngs After a Calculaton Has Started If changes to the settngs have been made and the mesh has not been changed usng tools n FLUENT, you are prompted wth the followng dalog: Fgure 2.8.2: The Settngs have changed! Dalog Snce changes were made to the settngs after you began the calculaton, you have to specfy whether or not the settngs changes should be saved to the settngs fle. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-21
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench You can choose any of the followng actons: Select the Do not store the modfed settngs for a future calculaton; use them just ths tme opton n the warnng dalog. The modfed settngs wll not be saved to the settngs fle. The acton you requested when you were prompted wll proceed. If you had selected to calculate, the teratons (or tme-steps) wll start usng the new settngs. If you had selected to close FLUENT, or save the project, the new settngs wll be stored n the case fle that s wrtten as a result of ether of those actons. If you open FLUENT from the Setup cell, or update or refresh the Setup or Soluton cell from the Project Schematc, the settngs wll be replaced wth the settngs n the settngs fle that s assocated wth the Setup cell. To calculate usng the new settngs ether open FLUENT from the Soluton cell or select Contnue Calculaton from the Soluton cell s context menu. If you want to use the new settngs as the startng pont for another analyss, smply create a new FLUENT-based system and mport the new case fle that contans the new settngs nto ts Setup cell. Select the Store the modfed settngs for a future calculaton and use them ths tme opton n the warnng dalog. The modfed settngs wll be saved to the settngs fle. The acton you requested when you were prompted wll proceed. If you had selected to calculate, the teratons (or tme-steps) wll start usng the new settngs. If you had selected to close FLUENT, or save the project, the new settngs wll also be stored n the case fle that s wrtten as a result of ether of those actons. Select Cancel n the warnng dalog. Create a new duplcate system (see Secton 2.7: Duplcatng FLUENT-Based Systems), modfy the settngs, and connect the Soluton cells for the two systems so that the calculatons wll be performed n sequence. Select Cancel n the warnng dalog and create a case modfcaton strategy that automatcally performs the desred settngs changes after the approprate number of teratons (or tme-steps); see Secton 2.9: Case Modfcaton Strateges wth FLUENT and Workbench for more detals. The last two approaches allow you to automatcally repeat settng changes after a specfed number of teratons (or tme-steps) every tme you perform an Update or restart the calculaton from the Setup cell. 2-22 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.8 Changng the Settngs and Mesh n FLUENT If the mesh has been changed usng tools n FLUENT (ncludng changes made usng dynamc or sldng mesh), you are prompted wth the followng dalog: Fgure 2.8.3: The Mesh and settngs have changed! Dalog You need to specfy whether or not any changes you made to the settngs after you began the calculaton should be saved to the settngs fle. Whenever you modfy the mesh n FLUENT, you also make changes to some settngs n FLUENT. Therefore, mesh modfcatons always result n settng changes. The orgnal mesh cannot be replaced by the modfed mesh after the calculaton has begun. You can choose any of the followng actons: Select the Do not store the modfed settngs or wthn-fluent mesh changes for a future calculaton; use them just ths tme opton n the warnng dalog. The modfed settngs wll not be saved to the settngs fle. The acton you requested when you were prompted wll proceed. If you had selected to calculate, the teratons (or tme-steps) wll start usng the new settngs and the modfed mesh. If you had selected to close FLUENT, or save the project, the new settngs and the modfed mesh wll be stored n the case fle that s wrtten as a result of ether of those actons. If you open FLUENT from the Setup cell, or update or refresh the Setup or Soluton cell from the Project Schematc, the settngs and the modfed mesh wll be replaced wth the mesh and settngs n the fles that are assocated wth the Setup cell. To calculate usng the new settngs and the modfed mesh, ether open FLUENT from the Soluton cell or select Contnue Calculaton from the Soluton cell s context menu. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-23
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench If you want to use the new settngs and the modfed mesh as the startng pont for another analyss, smply create a new FLUENT-based system and mport the new case fle that contans the new settngs and the modfed mesh nto ts Setup cell. Select the Store the modfed settngs for a future calculaton and use them ths tme; but do not preserve the wthn-fluent mesh changes. opton n the warnng dalog. The modfed settngs wll be saved to the settngs fle. The acton you requested when you were prompted wll proceed. If you had selected to calculate, the teratons (or tme-steps) wll start usng the new settngs and the modfed mesh. If you had selected to close FLUENT, or save the project, the new settngs and the modfed mesh wll also be stored n the case fle that s wrtten as a result of ether of those actons. If you open FLUENT from the Setup cell, or update or refresh the Setup or Soluton cell from the Project Schematc, the new settngs wll be used n conjuncton wth the mesh n the fle that s assocated wth the Setup cell. Snce those settngs may have been specfed after the mesh was modfed, you must verfy that the new settngs are consstent wth the orgnal mesh. Select Cancel n the warnng dalog and create a case modfcaton strategy that automatcally performs the desred settngs changes and mesh modfcaton steps after the approprate number of teratons (or tme-steps); see Secton 2.9: Case Modfcaton Strateges wth FLUENT and Workbench for more detals. Ths allows you to automatcally repeat the desred settng changes and mesh modfcaton steps after a specfed number of teratons (or tme-steps) every tme you perform an Update or restart the calculaton from the Setup cell. 2-24 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.9 Case Modfcaton Strateges wth FLUENT and Workbench 2.9 Case Modfcaton Strateges wth FLUENT and Workbench FLUENT allows you to specfy your own ntalzaton and start-up routnes usng automatcally executed strateges that you can defne usng the Automatc Soluton Intalzaton and Case Modfcaton opton on the Calculaton Actvtes task page wthn FLUENT. Selectng the opton and clckng the Edt.. button opens the Automatc Soluton Intalzaton and Case Modfcaton dalog. Fgure 2.9.1: Accessng Soluton Strateges n FLUENT Usng the Automatc Soluton Intalzaton and Case Modfcaton dalog box, you are able to specfy your ntalzaton method on the Intalzaton tab and use any text user nterface (TUI) command to modfy the case after a specfed number of tme steps or teratons n the Case Modfcaton tab. Ths opton replaces the need for some smple journal fles, especally for cases where a prescrbed start-up and soluton routne s used (start wth 1st order, swtch to 2nd order, turn on reactons, etc.) When a case modfcaton strategy s defned wthn FLUENT, t wll be used when a system s updated from the Project Schematc n Workbench. As mentoned n Secton 2.8: Changng the Settngs and Mesh n FLUENT, mesh manpulatons steps executed from wthn FLUENT are not repeated when an update s performed from the Project Schematc or you start FLUENT from the Setup cell. However, for mesh manpulaton, you can specfy steps that wll be executed at the begnnng of your calculaton f you ncorporate them nto a case modfcaton strategy. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-25
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench Soluton strateges can also be useful when you need to perform mesh manpulaton steps after a specfed number of teratons durng a calculaton. Whenever you run a case modfcaton strategy nteractvely, make sure to reload the orgnal mesh and revert to the orgnal settngs before rerunnng the case modfcaton strategy (see the separate FLUENT User s Gude for nformaton on how the orgnal settngs can be reset automatcally as part of a case modfcaton strategy). For more nformaton about usng these features n FLUENT, see the FLUENT User s Gude. 2.10 Workng Wth Input and Output Parameters n Workbench Workbench uses parameters and desgn ponts to allow you to run optmzaton and whatf scenaros. You can defne both nput and output parameters n FLUENT that can be used n your Workbench project. You can also defne parameters n other applcatons ncludng ANSYS DesgnModeler and ANSYS CFD-Post. Once you have defned parameters for your system, a Parameters cell s added to the system and the Parameter Set bus bar s added to your project. Arrows representng nput and output parameters connect the bus bar to each system n whch you have defned parameters. Double-clck on the Parameter Set bus bar to open the Parameters workspace. The parameters workspace ncludes the Outlne of All Parameters table that lsts all of the parameters n your project as well as the Table of Desgn Ponts table n whch you can specfy desgn ponts. To create a new desgn pont, enter the nput parameter values that you want to use for that desgn pont n the Table of Desgn Ponts n the row wth an astersk (*) n the frst column. You can create several desgn ponts. Once you have fnshed specfyng desgn ponts, you can rght-clck on the row for one desgn pont and select the Update Selected Desgn Pont opton from the context menu to compute the output parameters for that desgn pont. Alternatvely, you can select Update All Desgn Ponts from the Toolbar to update all of your desgn ponts n sequence. 2-26 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.11 Vewng Your FLUENT Data Usng ANSYS CFD-Post Only the data from the desgn pont n the row labeled Current s saved wth the project. If you want to post-process the results from a dfferent desgn pont n ether ANSYS FLUENT or ANSYS CFD-Post, clck on the box n the Exported column for that desgn pont before you update that desgn pont. Otherwse, the data for that desgn pont s automatcally deleted after the output parameters for that desgn pont are updated. If you choose to export a desgn pont, the data assocated wth that desgn pont s exported to a new project. The new project s located n the same drectory as the orgnal project. The name of the project s the same as the name of the orgnal project, except that t s appended wth dpn, where n s the row number that corresponds to the desgn pont n the orgnal project s Table of Desgn Ponts. Note that you cannot create, edt, delete, or rename parameters n FLUENT f any teratons (or tme-steps) have been performed. If you want to create, edt, delete, or rename parameters n FLUENT for a case wth an exstng soluton, you must frst ntalze the soluton. For more nformaton about nput and output parameters n FLUENT, see the FLUENT User s Gude. For more nformaton about parameters, desgn ponts, what-f scenaros and optmzaton studes n Workbench, see the Workbench on-lne documentaton. 2.11 Vewng Your FLUENT Data Usng ANSYS CFD-Post ANSYS CFD-Post s a post-processng applcaton that helps you vsualze the results of your ANSYS FLUENT CFD smulatons. For FLUENT-based analyss systems, the Results cell provdes access to the ANSYS CFD-Post applcaton. In addton, the Toolbox contans a separate Results component system (.e., ANSYS CFD-Post) that you can add to the Project Schematc and connect to FLUENT-based systems. When a Results cell s connected to a FLUENT-based system s Soluton cell and the Results cell s state s ether Refresh Requred or Update Changes Pendng, you can vew the results of your FLUENT calculaton n ANSYS CFD-Post by double-clckng the Results cell. Ths wll load the FLUENT results nto ANSYS CFD-Post. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-27
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench Fgure 2.11.1: Multple FLUENT Results Loaded Into ANSYS CFD-Post In addton to analyzng your results n ANSYS CFD-Post, you can also vew the results of your smulaton usng the standard FLUENT postprocessng tools. For more nformaton, see the separate FLUENT User s Gude. There are two optons for exportng FLUENT fles for ANSYS CFD-Post: 1. Standard FLUENT case and data fles do not contan all varables, however, you can add addtonal quanttes to your regular FLUENT data fle usng the Data Fle Optons dalog box n FLUENT. 2. Lghtweght data fles are created by exportng ANSYS CFD-Post compatble fles. These fles can be used to save just the varables of nterest. When you edt a Results cell that s connected to the Soluton cell n a FLUENT-based system, ANSYS CFD-Post always loads the standard FLU- ENT case and data fles. For more nformaton on exportng FLUENT fles for ANSYS CFD-Post, see the separate FLUENT User s Gude. 2-28 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.12 Understandng the Fle Structure for FLUENT n Workbench 2.12 Understandng the Fle Structure for FLUENT n Workbench When you save a Workbench project (e.g., my-project), the project s saved wth a.wbpj extenson (e.g., my-project.wbpj). Other fles assocated wth the project (through other Workbench applcatons such as ANSYS FLUENT or ANSYS CFX) are located n the dp0 folder wthn a fles folder (e.g., my-project fles). Each system n the Project Schematc has ts own drectory under the dp0 drectory. The drectory s named usng the correspondng system dentfer (e.g., FFF represents a FLUENT-based analyss system; FLU represents a FLUENT-based component system; Post represents a Results component system, etc.). The drectory name s appended wth a number to dstngush t from the drectores for other systems of the same type (wth the excepton of the drectory name for the frst system of a specfc type whch has no number appended to t). Wthn each system drectory s a folder for each applcaton that s part of the system. Ths folder s used to store the fles generated and used by the applcaton. In addton to the settngs, case and data fles, the followng fles are managed by FLUENT n Workbench: montor fles flamelet fles vew factor fles non-premxed fles (.pdf) nterpreted user-defned (UDF) fles compled UDF lbrares Dscrete Transfer Radaton (DTRM).ray fles mechansm fles (.che or.np) property database fles (thermo.db and transport.db) Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-29
Workng Wth FLUENT n Workbench You may use other types of fles wth FLUENT n Workbench, however, you are responsble for makng sure that they are located n the approprate folder wthn the project fle structure. The followng fgure represents an example of the drectory structure for Workbench project wth two Flud Flow (FLUENT) systems and one Results system: Fgure 2.12.1: Example of the Drectory Structure for a FLUENT-Based Project n Workbench 2-30 Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009
2.12 Understandng the Fle Structure for FLUENT n Workbench You can vew the fles assocated wth your Workbench project by selectng the Fles opton under the Vew menu. Vew Fles Fgure 2.12.2: The Fles Vew for a Project n Workbench If data s shared between two systems, then fles are also shared between the two systems. The shared fle wll exst n ether the drectory of the frst system that used t, or n a global drectory n the desgn pont drectory (dependng on the type of system that generated the fle). The fles folder also contans a user fles drectory. Ths drectory should be used for any fles you create or reference that you would lke to store wth the project. In general, you should not modfy the structure of the project drectores or delete or modfy any of the fles that Workbench applcatons have stored n the project drectores. However, you may delete FLUENT case and data fles that are stored wth the project but are no longer needed. You should close FLUENT before deletng FLUENT case and data fles from the project drectores. Release 12.1 c ANSYS, Inc. October 1, 2009 2-31