Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.

com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Edge and Face Meshing

3-1

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Meshing - General
u

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
l

Edges, Faces and Volumes can be directly meshed n A uniform mesh is generated unless pre-meshing or sizing functions are used. Pre-meshing n Edge meshes can be graded (varying interval size on edge) n Graded edge mesh can be used to control distribution of cell size in face mesh. n Controlling distribution of cell size in face mesh also controls distribution of cell size in volume mesh. Sizing Functions n New feature to control cell size in faces and volumes directly.
3-2 Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Edge Meshing
u u

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

l l

Picking n Temporary graphics n Links, Directions Grading/Spacing Special characteristics n Apply and Defaults n Invert and Reverse Options

3-3

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Picking Edges for Meshing

u

Picking
l

Temporarily meshed edges n When you pick an edge, the edge is temporarily meshed using white nodes n Displayed edge mesh is based on current grading and spacing parameters n If you modify the scheme or spacing, the temporary mesh will be immediately updated n When you Apply, the mesh nodes will turn blue Sense n Sense is used to show direction of grading n Every picked edge will show its sense direction using an arrow n 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

3-4

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Soft Links
u

Picking and soft links

l

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

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

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Grading
u u

Controls mesh density distribution along an edge. Grading can produce single-sided or double-sided mesh
l

Single-sided grading Symmetric grading Asymmetric grading

Doubled-sided mesh can be symmetric or asymmetric. n Symmetric schemes produce symmetric mesh about edge center. n Asymmetric schemes can produce asymmetric mesh about edge center. Uses a multiplicative constant, R, to describe the ratio of the length of two adjacent mesh elements, i.e., n 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

Single-sided grading:
l

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Double Sided Grading

u

Symmetric grading schemes implicitly generate double sided grading that is symmetric. Asymmetric schemes are accessible when Double-Sided Option is used with:
l

Successive Ratio, First Length, Last Length, First-Last Ratio, and Last-First Ratio

The mesh is symmetric if R 1 and R 2 are equal. The mesh is asymmetric if R 1 and R2 are not equal. Edge center is determined automatically.

3-7

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Spacing
u

Spacing
l

In all meshing forms, the following spacing functions can be specified: n Interval count - recommended for edge meshing only
s

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

s

Interval size - the default setting

s

s s

3-8

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

First Edge Settings

u

Use first edge settings enabled l First edge selected in pick list updates form l Useful to copy settings from one meshed edge to other edges. Use first edge settings disabled l Any time you pick two or more meshed edges where there is a difference in: n the Type n the Spacing the local Apply button for that option will be turned off l This allows you to maintain pre-existing grading and/or spacing settings for each edge. l Enforce a change in grading and/or spacing by enabling Apply button.
3-9 Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Mesh Options
u

Apply without meshing

l

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 n Example
s s

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

l

Deletes old mesh Sizing function has precedence on meshing unless this option is enabled.

Ignore Sizing Function

l

3-10

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Face Meshing
u

Face Meshing form

l

Upon picking a face n GAMBIT automatically chooses Quad elements n GAMBIT chooses the Type based on the Solver/face vertex types Available element/scheme type combinations n Quad/Tri n Quad
s s s s n

Map Submap Tri-Primitive Pave Pave

s s s

Map Pave Wedge

Tri
s

Gambit also has quad-to-tri conversion utility.

3-11

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Face Meshing - Quad Examples

u

Quad: Map

Quad: Submap

Quad: Tri-Primitive

Quad: Pave

3-12

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Face Meshing - Quad/Tri and Tri Examples

u

Quad/Tri: Map

Quad/Tri: Pave

Quad/Tri: Wedge

Tri: Pave

3-13

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Deleting Old Mesh

u

Existing mesh must be removed before remeshing.

l

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
l

Remove mesh n Leaves all lower topology mesh Remove mesh + lower mesh n Removes all lower mesh that is not shared with another entity

Undo after meshing operation also works!

3-14 Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Hard Linking
u

Mesh Links (Hard Links)

l

Mesh linked entities have identical mesh n created for periodic boundary conditions Applicable to Edge, Face, and Volume entities n Best to use soft links for edge meshing n To link volume meshes, all faces must be mesh hard linked first.
+ + + +

Setting up Hard Links for Faces

l

Select faces and reference vertices n Edge sense will appear n Reverse orientation on by default for sense n Periodic option can be used for split edges Mesh one face before or after hard link is defined n mesh on second face generated automatically

Multiple pairs of hard links can be created.

3-15 Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Assessing Mesh Quality

u u

Default measure of quality is based on EquiAngle Skew. Definition of EquiAngle Skew:

e min max max e , e 180 e

where:
l l l

max = largest angle in face or cell min = smallest angle in face or cell e = angle for equiangular face or cell n e.g., 60 for triangle, 90 for square

max min

Range of skewness:
0 best 1 worst

3-16

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Examining the Mesh

Examine Mesh Form
l

Display Type n Plane/Sphere

s n

View mesh elements that fall in plane or sphere. View mesh elements within quality range. Histogram shows quality distribution.

Range
s s

Select 2D/3D and Element Type n Select Quality Type Display Mode n Change cell display attributes.
n

3-17

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Striving for Quality

u u

A poor quality grid will cause inaccurate solutions and/or slow convergence. Minimize EquiAngle Skew:
l

Hex and Quad Cells n Skewness should not exceed 0.85. Tris n Skewness should not exceed 0.85. Tets n Skewness should not exceed 0.9 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. 8/9/02

Minimize local variations in cell size:

l

If Examine Mesh shows such violations:

l l l

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Mesh Smoothing
u

Gambit generally incorporates default smoothing scheme after initial mesh on face or in volume is created.
l

Default scheme can be changed in Edit - Defaults

Different scheme can be selected and applied after meshing.

l

Face mesh smoothing n Length-weighted Laplacian n Centroid Area n Winslow Volume mesh smoothing n Length-weighted Laplacian n Equipotential Boundary mesh by default is fixed. n Option allows frees boundary mesh.
3-19 Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Assigning Boundary and Continuum Types

u

The Boundary Type Form

l

l
l

Enter entities to be grouped into single zone in entity list box. n First choose entity type as face or edge. Select boundary type for zone (entity group). n Available types depend on Solver Name zone if desired. Apply defines zone and boundary type. n Can also modify and delete zone/boundary. By default, n External faces/edges are walls n Internal faces/edges are interior Similar operation. All continuum zones are by default, fluid.
3-20 Fluent Inc. 8/9/02

The Continuum Type Form

l l

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Introductory GAMBIT Notes GAMBIT v2.0 Jan 2002

Linear/Quadratic Elements (FIDAP/POLYFLOW USERS ONLY)

u

General tools
l

Higher-order elements n For FEM codes (FIDAP and POLYFLOW), the element order can be changed at all three meshing levels n Only linear and quadratic elements are directly available n A change to quadratic element type at one level will automatically change the element type in other levels n The following table presents the most commonly used and recommended quadratic element types for FEM - solvers POLYFLOW FIDAP edge 3-node 3-node face 8-node quad 9-node quad volume 21-node brick 27-node brick

3-21

Fluent Inc. 8/9/02