Fluent 4

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Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003
Edge and Face Meshing
3-1
Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com
Meshing - General
To reduce overall mesh size, confine small cells to areas where they are needed (e.g., where high gradients are expected). Controlling cell size distribution
Edges, Faces and Volumes can be directly meshed
A uniform mesh is generated unless pre-meshing or sizing functions are used. Edge meshes can be graded (varying interval size on edge) Graded edge mesh can be used to control distribution of cell size in face mesh. Controlling distribution of cell size in face mesh also controls distribution of cell size in volume mesh. New feature to control cell size in faces and volumes directly.
3-2 Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
Pre-meshing

Sizing Functions
Edge Meshing

Edge mesh distribution is controlled through the spacing and grading parameters. Using the Edge meshing form
Picking

Temporary graphics Links, Directions
Grading/Spacing Special characteristics

Apply and Defaults Invert and Reverse
Options
3-3
Picking Edges for Meshing
Picking
Temporarily meshed edges
When you pick an edge, the edge is temporarily meshed using white nodes Displayed edge mesh is based on current grading and spacing parameters If you modify the scheme or spacing, the temporary mesh will be immediately updated When you Apply, the mesh nodes will turn blue Sense is used to show direction of grading Every picked edge will show its sense direction using an arrow The sense can be reversed by a shift-middle click on the last edge picked (this is in addition to the "next" functionality) or by clicking on the Reverse button
Sense

3-4
Soft Links
Picking and soft links
Pick with links

By enabling this option, Soft-linked edges can be selected in a single pick Linked edges share the same information and can be picked in a single pick
Modifying soft links
You can anytime:

Form links Break links Maintain links
By default, GAMBIT will form links between unmeshed edges that are picked together By default, GAMBIT will maintain links between meshed edges that are picked together
3-5
Grading
Controls mesh density distribution along an edge. Grading can produce single-sided or double-sided mesh
Single-sided grading Symmetric grading Asymmetric grading
Doubled-sided mesh can be symmetric or asymmetric.
Symmetric schemes produce symmetric mesh about edge center. Asymmetric schemes can produce asymmetric mesh about edge center.
Single-sided grading:
Uses a multiplicative constant, R, to describe the ratio of the length of two adjacent mesh elements, i.e.,
R = l(i+1) / li
R can be specified explicitly (Successive Ratio) or determined indirectly Gambit also uses edge length and spacing information to determine R.
3-6 Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
Double Sided Grading
Symmetric grading schemes implicitly generate double sided grading that is symmetric. Asymmetric schemes are accessible when Double-Sided Option is used with:
Successive Ratio, First Length, Last Length, First-Last Ratio, and Last-First Ratio
The mesh is symmetric if R1 and R2 are equal.

The mesh is asymmetric if R1 and R2 are not equal. Edge center is determined automatically.
3-7
Spacing
Spacing
In all meshing forms, the following spacing functions can be specified:
Interval count - recommended for edge meshing only
A value of 5 creates 5 intervals on the edge (6 nodes, including ends) An edge length of 10 and a value of 20 creates 5 intervals on the edge Identifies the interval size relative to overall dimensions of geometry Identifies "average" interval size if used with grading An edge-length of 10 and a value of 2 creates 5 intervals on the edge Average size of elements/grid is 2
% of edge length - recommended for edge meshing only
Interval size - the default setting
3-8
First Edge Settings
Use first edge settings enabled First edge selected in pick list updates form Useful to copy settings from one meshed edge to other edges. Use first edge settings disabled Any time you pick two or more meshed edges where there is a difference in:

the Type the Spacing
the local Apply button for that option will be turned off This allows you to maintain pre-existing grading and/or spacing settings for each edge. Enforce a change in grading and/or spacing by enabling Apply button.
3-9 Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
Mesh Options
Apply without meshing
This option is useful in cases where you want to impose a scheme without fixing the number of intervals The higher level meshing scheme will decide (and match) the intervals
Example
Specify fixed interval and no grading Specify double sided grading and Apply without Meshing on bottom edges Face meshing will automatically match mesh
Remove Old Mesh
Deletes old mesh Sizing function has precedence on meshing unless this option is enabled.
Ignore Sizing Function
3-10
Face Meshing
Face Meshing form
Upon picking a face

GAMBIT automatically chooses Quad elements GAMBIT chooses the Type based on the
Solver/face vertex types
Available element/scheme type combinations
Quad

Quad/Tri

Map Submap Tri-Primitive Pave Pave
Map Pave Wedge
Tri
Gambit also has quad-to-tri conversion utility.
3-11
Face Meshing - Quad Examples
Quad: Map
Quad: Submap
Quad: Tri-Primitive
Quad: Pave
3-12
Face Meshing - Quad/Tri and Tri Examples
Quad/Tri: Map
Quad/Tri: Pave
Quad/Tri: Wedge
Tri: Pave
3-13
Deleting Old Mesh
Existing mesh must be removed before remeshing.
Mesh can be deleted using delete mesh form. Lower topology mesh can also be deleted (default)
Existing mesh can also be removed in all Create mesh forms without the need for Delete mesh
Remove mesh
Leaves all lower topology mesh Removes all lower mesh that is not shared with another entity
Remove mesh + lower mesh
Undo after meshing operation also works!

3-14 Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
Hard Linking
Mesh Links (Hard Links)
Mesh linked entities have identical mesh
created for periodic boundary conditions Best to use soft links for edge meshing To link volume meshes, all faces must be mesh hard linked first.
+ + + +
Applicable to Edge, Face, and Volume entities
Setting up Hard Links for Faces
Select faces and reference vertices

Edge sense will appear Reverse orientation on by default for sense Periodic option can be used for split edges mesh on second face generated automatically
Mesh one face before or after hard link is defined
Multiple pairs of hard links can be created.

3-15 Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
Assessing Mesh Quality
Default measure of quality is based on EquiAngle Skew. Definition of EquiAngle Skew:

max e e min max , 180 e e
where:

max = largest angle in face or cell min = smallest angle in face or cell e = angle for equiangular face or cell
max min
e.g., 60 for triangle, 90 for square
Range of skewness:
0 best 1 worst
3-16
Examining the Mesh

Examine Mesh Form
Display Type
Plane/Sphere
View mesh elements that fall in plane or sphere. View mesh elements within quality range. Histogram shows quality distribution. Show worst element automatically zooms into worst element
Range

Select 2D/3D and Element Type Select Quality Type Change cell display attributes.
Display Mode
3-17
Striving for Quality
A poor quality grid will cause inaccurate solutions and/or slow convergence. Minimize EquiAngle Skew:
Hex and Quad Cells
Skewness should not exceed 0.85.
Tris
Skewness should not exceed 0.85.

Skewness should not exceed 0.9
Tets
Minimize local variations in cell size:
e.g., adjacent cells should not have size ratio greater than 20%. Delete mesh Perform necessary decomposition and/or pre-mesh edges and faces. Remesh
3-18 Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
If Examine Mesh shows such violations:

Mesh Smoothing
Gambit generally incorporates default smoothing scheme after initial mesh on face or in volume is created.
Default scheme can be changed in Edit - Defaults
Different scheme can be selected and applied after meshing.
Face mesh smoothing

Length-weighted Laplacian Centroid Area Winslow
Volume mesh smoothing
Length-weighted Laplacian Equipotential

Option allows frees boundary mesh.
3-19 Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
Boundary mesh by default is fixed.
Assigning Boundary and Continuum Types
The Boundary Type Form
Enter entities to be grouped into single zone in entity list box.
First choose entity type as face or edge. Available types depend on Solver
Select boundary type for zone (entity group).
Name zone if desired. Apply defines zone and boundary type.
Can also modify and delete zone/boundary. External faces/edges are walls Internal faces/edges are interior
By default,

The Continuum Type Form

Similar operation. All continuum zones are by default, fluid.

3-20 Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012
FLUENT 5/6 Example: Flow over a Heated Obstacle
Boundary: Name = inlet Type = VELOCITY_INLET
Boundary: Name = outlet Type = PRESSURE_OUTLET

3-21
Continuum: Name = step Type = SOLID

Defaults: Example: Flow over a Heated Obstacle
By default, the 4 remaining external faces have the Name and Type: Boundary: Name = wall Type = WALL
By default, the one remaining volume has the Name and Type Continuum: Name = fluid Type = FLUID
3-22

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Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Edge and Face Meshing

Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Edges, Faces and Volumes can be directly meshed

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Temporary graphics Links, Directions

Grading/Spacing Special characteristics

Apply and Defaults Invert and Reverse

Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Picking Edges for Meshing

Temporarily meshed edges

Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Picking and soft links

Pick with links

Modifying soft links

You can anytime:

Form links Break links Maintain links

Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Single-sided grading Symmetric grading Asymmetric grading

Doubled-sided mesh can be symmetric or asymmetric.

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Double Sided Grading

The mesh is symmetric if R1 and R2 are equal.

Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

In all meshing forms, the following spacing functions can be specified:

Interval count - recommended for edge meshing only

% of edge length - recommended for edge meshing only

Interval size - the default setting

Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

First Edge Settings

the Type the Spacing

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Apply without meshing

Remove Old Mesh

Ignore Sizing Function

Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.1 Jul 2003

Face Meshing form

Upon picking a face

Solver/face vertex types

Available element/scheme type combinations

Map Submap Tri-Primitive Pave Pave

Map Pave Wedge

Gambit also has quad-to-tri conversion utility.

Fluent Inc. 12/28/2012

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com