An Example of a Fluent Meshing Analysis in Workbench

3.1. Limitations

The following limitations exists when using the Fluent Meshing component system:

• Connections to upstream geometry cells are not allowed.

• The following options for the Mesh cell context menu are not available and/or not supported, or have the noted caveat:

– Clear Generated Data – Transfer Data to New – Refresh

– Reset (removes all the current files and data, essentially restarting the application)

– Mesh import options (you can only import a geometry, mesh, or case file from within Fluent Meshing).

• The mesh cannot be modified in a copied Fluent Meshing component system if the Mesh cell is already up-to-date.

• Solver-to-mesh-to-solver work flows in Workbench (for example, editing the mesh, and so on.) are currently not supported.

• 2D simulations are currently not supported.

• Geometry, mesh, or TGrid parameters are currently not supported, however, Fluent boundary condition parameters are still available.

3.2. Creating Fluent Meshing Component Systems

The Fluent Meshing component system allows you to access the Fluent Meshing application from within Workbench and contains only the cells needed to specify settings in Fluent Meshing and run the Fluent solver.

Important

A separate cell for results visualization is only needed when using CFD-Post. The post-pro-cessing capabilities in Fluent can be accessed from the Fluent Meshing component system.

You can create a Fluent Meshing component system in Workbench by double-clicking Fluent (with TGrid meshing) under Component Systems.

Important

You can also create a Fluent Meshing component system by left-clicking on Fluent Mesh-ing under Component Systems in the Toolbox, and then draggMesh-ing it onto the Project Schematic.

Figure 3.1: Selecting the Fluent Meshing Component System in Workbench

The new Fluent Meshing component system appears in the Project Schematic as a box containing three cells: the Mesh cell, the Setup cell, and the Solution cell (Figure 3.2: A Fluent Meshing Component System (p. 85)). The Mesh cell provides access to the Fluent Meshing application where a geometry or mesh file can be imported and modified. The Setup and Solution cells in a Fluent Meshing component system work in the same manner as for the Fluid Flow (Fluent) analysis system (see Creating Fluent-Based Systems (p. 4)). The only difference is that the mesh must originate from a file imported into the Fluent Meshing application. Note that when you read or import a case file into the Fluent Mesh-ing application, only the mesh information is available (not the case settMesh-ings information).

Figure 3.2: A Fluent Meshing Component System

3.3. Understanding Cell States with Fluent Meshing in Workbench

Workbench provides visual indications of a cell’s state via icons on the right side of each cell. While a typical Fluent component system has a number of cell states available (see Understanding Cell States with Fluent in Workbench (p. 8)), the Mesh cell for the Fluent Meshing component system only has the following cell states:

• Attention Required ( ) indicates that you must take some action to proceed (for example, import a mesh).

• Up-To-Date ( ) indicates that an update has been performed on the cell and no failures have oc-curred.

• Refresh Required (disabled)

• Update Required (disabled)

When you double-click the Mesh cell (or click the Edit... option in the context menu), Fluent starts in meshing mode (the Meshing Mode option is automatically disabled in Fluent Launcher). If the Mesh cell is already up-to-date, the cell is disabled and cannot be edited (for example, the Edit... option is not available in the context menu and double-clicking the Mesh cell does nothing).

If the Mesh cell is not up-to-date but the mesh creation is in process, if you edit the mesh, Fluent opens in meshing mode with the mesh in progress. The cell status will be Attention Required. When you double-click the Setup cell in the Fluent Meshing component system, Fluent opens in solver (solution) mode.

3.4. Starting Fluent (in Meshing Mode or Solution Mode) in Workbench

You can start the Fluent application in either meshing mode or solution mode by double-clicking a cell in a Fluent Meshing component system (or clicking the Edit... option in the corresponding cell’s context menu). When Fluent Launcher opens, click OK to open the Fluent application. You are able to start the Fluent application in either meshing mode or solution mode under certain conditions, depending on the state of the cells within the Fluent Meshing component system.

• If you are working with a new Fluent Meshing component system (where all cells are either Attention Required or Unfulfilled):

Starting Fluent (in Meshing Mode or Solution Mode) in Workbench

– Double-clicking the Mesh cell opens the Fluent Meshing application (that is, Fluent in meshing mode).

– Double-clicking either the Setup cell or the Solution cell opens Fluent in solution setup mode where you are expected to import the mesh or case file, which deletes the Mesh cell from the Fluent Meshing component system.

• If you are working with a preexisting Fluent Meshing component system (where not all cells are Up-to-Date):

– Double-clicking the Mesh cell does nothing since the mesh has already been defined.

– Double-clicking the Setup cell opens Fluent in solution setup mode and loads the mesh and settings files.

– Double-clicking the Solution cell opens Fluent in solution mode and loads the case and data files.

• If you are working with a preexisting Fluent Meshing component system (where all cells are Up-to-Date):

– Double-clicking the Mesh cell does nothing since the mesh has already been defined.

– Double-clicking the Setup cell opens Fluent in solution setup mode and loads the mesh and settings files.

– Double-clicking the Solution cell opens Fluent in solution mode and loads the case and data files.

3.5. Saving Your Work in Fluent Meshing with Workbench

You can save your Workbench project directly from Fluent Meshing in two ways:

1. Select the Save Project option under the File menu within Fluent Meshing.

File → Save Project

2. Select the Save Project option from the Write a File icon in the Fluent Meshing toolbar.

Alternatively, you can also save your Workbench project by selecting the Save option under the File menu within Workbench or by selecting the Save icon from the Workbench toolbar.

For more information, see Saving Your Work in Fluent with Workbench (p. 17).

3.6. Exiting Fluent Meshing and Workbench

You can end your Fluent Meshing session by using the Close option under the File menu.

File → Close

You can end your Workbench session by using the Exit option under the File menu.

File → Exit

For more information, see Exiting Fluent and Workbench (p. 18).

3.7. An Example of a Fluent Meshing Analysis in Workbench

This example describes when the files that are generated and used by Fluent Meshing are written and how the cell states change as you work with a Fluent Meshing-based component system in Workbench.

1. Add a new Fluent Meshing component system to the Project Schematic. The state of the Mesh cell is Attention Required and the states for the Setup, and Solution cells are Unfulfilled.

2. Double-click the Mesh cell. The Fluent Meshing application launches (the Meshing Mode option is automatically enabled in Fluent Launcher). In the Fluent Meshing application, import a geometry and/or create a mesh file, then perform your mesh operations. You can also import a Fluent case file into the

An Example of a Fluent Meshing Analysis in Workbench

3. Switch to the solver (solution) mode (by using the Switch to Solution button, or by using the switch-to-meshing-mode text command). The state of the Mesh cell becomes Up-to-Date, and the Setup cell becomes Attention Required. When you save the project, the mesh (.msh) file is written, the settings (.set) file is written, and the Solution cell becomes Unfufilled.

4. Double-click the Setup cell. Fluent launches in solution mode and loads the mesh file. In Fluent, specify boundary conditions, initialize the solution, and enter a non-zero number of iterations on the Run Cal-culation task page. The state of the Setup cell becomes Up-to-Date, and the state of the Solution cell becomes Refresh Required.

5. In Fluent, select the Calculate button. The settings (.set) file is written and iterations begin. The state of the Solution cell becomes Update Required.

Iterations are completed, or the solution meets the convergence criteria. The state of the Solution cell becomes Up-to-Date.