User Manual AutoGrid5™ v8 Automated Grid Generator for Turbomachinery
- March 2010 -
NUMERICAL MECHANICS APPLICATIONS
User Manual AutoGrid5™ v8 Documentation v8d
NUMECA International 5, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 1050 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 647.83.11 Fax: +32 2 647.93.98 Web: http://www.numeca.com
NUMERICAL MECHANICS APPLICATIONS
Contents
CHAPTER 1: Getting Started 1-1 Overview
1-1
1-2 Introduction What is AutoGrid5™ Features Structured vs. Unstructured Approach Project Management Mesh files Template files
1-1 1-1 1-1 1-2 1-2 1-3 1-3 1-3
1-3 How To Use This Manual Outline Conventions
1-4 1-4 1-4
1-4 First Time Use Basic Installation Expert Graphics Options Graphics Driver Background & Foreground Colors
1-5 1-5 1-5 1-5 1-6
1-5 How to Start AutoGrid5™ Interface
1-6
1-6 Required Licenses Standard AutoGrid5™ License Additional Licenses
1-7 1-7 1-7
CHAPTER 2: Graphical User Interface
AutoGrid5™
1-1
2-1
2-1 Overview
2-1
2-2 Project Selection Create New Template/Project Open Existing Template/Project
2-2 2-2 2-3
2-3 Main Menu Bar File Menu Open Project New Project Save Project / Save Project As Save Template / Save Template As Save Grid -> Save Grid As Save Grid -> Save Grid As Fine 7.4 Save Grid -> Save Grid As Fine 8.6 Save Grid -> Merge Project Grid Save Grid -> Save Fluid Domain(s) Project List -> Transfer File List Project List -> Open File List Scripts -> Edit Scripts -> Save All Scripts -> Execute Scripts -> Re-execute Last Print -> As PostScript
Group Domain Delete Domain Domain Interface Management Domain Boundary Properties Rename Domain Boundary Group Domain Boundaries Ungroup Domain Boundaries Connect Domain Boundaries Interface Viewer Export Surfaces Grid Page 2-6 Control Area Message Area Keyboard Input Area Mouse Coordinates Information Area Grid Parameters Area Generation Status Area Viewing Buttons X, Y & Z Projection Buttons Coordinate Axis Scrolling 3D Viewing Button Rotate Around X, Y or Z axis Zoom In/Out Region Zoom Fit Button Original Button Cutting Plane
3-3 Geometry Definition The ".geomTurbo" File Format Channel Format Basic Curves Channel Curves Row(s) Definition Format. Row Type Row Periodicity Blade Definition External CAD Format 3-4 Mesh Generation Steps Project Initialization Project Setup Row Properties Periodicity Number of Geometry Periodicity Row Information Hub/Shroud/Shroud Gap Non-Axisymmetric Tandem Row Full Mesh Generation Low Memory Use Number of Repetition Hub/Shroud Gap (Expert Mode) Cell Width Mesh Control Flow Paths Control Blade to Blade Control Conformal Mapping Blade to Blade Mesh Initialization Default (O4H) Blade to Blade Topology Grid Points Clustering Initial Mesh Blade to Blade Mesh Optimization Blade to Blade View Control Display Update Active Layer 3D Mesh Generation Project Persistency Create New Project Overwrite Existing Project Project Library Project Info Project Files Mesh files Template files Open Project File Select Project File Project File Library
Counter Rotative Fan Settings SHF Pump Settings Axial Fan Settings CHAPTER 5: Geometry Definition 5-1 Overview 5-2 Import ".geomTurbo" File 5-3 Import CAD Menu Bar File Menu Open... Open IGES Export... Close Exit Geometry Menu Edit Menu Geometry Axis... View Menu View Solid Select Menu Surfaces Curves Surface List ... Curve List ... Invert Selection Hide Selection Viewing Buttons Quick Access Pad Graphics Area Interaction Overview "Link to..." Description Link to Hub Link to Shroud Link Non Axi to Hub Link Non Axi to Shroud Link Non Axi to Shroud Gap Link to Nozzle Link to Fin Up/Down Import Meridional Link to 3D Effect Link to Blade Link to Pressure/Suction Side Link to Leading Edge Link to Trailing Edge Link to Hub Gap Link to Shroud Gap
5-4 Hub/Shroud Edition Edit Hub/Shroud Non-Axisymmetric Hub/Shroud From ".geomTurbo" File From Import CAD Mesh Generation Control
5-13 5-13 5-14 5-15 5-16 5-16
5-5 Blade Edition Blade Expansion Force Blunt at Leading Edge Force Blunt at Trailing Edge Stick Leading/Trailing Edge Apply a Rotation Sewing Tolerance Expansion at Hub Unchanged Expand Treat blend Treat blend with offset Expansion at Shroud Unchanged Expand Treat blend Treat blend with offset Blade Fillet Leading/Trailing Edge Wizard Control Layers Definition Control Layer Limits Control Layer Clustering Global Layer Control Expert Layer Control Leading/Trailing Edge Location Definition Active Layer Edge Location Control. Edge Expansion Control View B2B & Solid Body Sheet on Blade Non-Axisymmetric Shroud Gap From ".geomTurbo" File From Import CAD Mesh Generation Control
6-3 Mesh Control Flow Paths Control Flow Paths Manual Editing Hub/Shroud Gaps Control Blade Fillet Bulb Control Bypass Control Fin Control Copy - Merge Distributions Conditions of Use Representation Mesh Quality Checks
7-2 Blade to Blade Topology Management Overview Topology Selection
7-3 7-3 7-3
xi
Contents
Copy/Paste Topology
xii
7-6
7-3 Default Topology (O4H Topology) Default Topology Control Control Number of Grid Points Control Periodic Boundary Condition Type Control Skin Mesh Clustering around the Blade Grid Point Number Control Leading Edge & Trailing Edge Clustering Control Move Leading Edge & Trailing Edge Location Control Boundary Layer in the Skin Mesh. Control Hub/Shroud Gap Mesh Blend/Sharp/Rounded Treatment at Leading/Trailing Edge Grid Points in Throat Wake Control Inlet & Outlet Boundary Control Relax Inlet & Outlet Clustering Blunt at Leading/Trailing Edge Topology for High Staggered Blades Overview High Staggered Blade Topology Optimization Grid Points - Periodic Boundary - Gap Control Tandem Row Main Blade/Splitter Configuration Multi-Rows Configuration Control Lines & Blade to Blade Mesh. Upstream & Downstream Control Lines. Control Line on Blade Cell Width around Control Line Mesh Quality Improvement with Control Line Intersection Control Options
7-4 HOH Topology Overview HOH Blade to Blade Mesh Control Upstream & Downstream Extension Control Number of Points Control Blade Clustering Control Butterfly Mesh Topology for Hub/Shroud Gap Hub to Shroud Mesh Control Intersection Control Options
7-32 7-32 7-32 7-33 7-34 7-35 7-36 7-37 7-37
7-5 H&I Topology Overview H&I Topology Control Control Number of Grid Points Control Skin Mesh Clustering around the Blade Control Hub/Shroud Gap Mesh Blend/Sharp/Rounded Treatment at Leading/Trailing Edge Inlet & Outlet Boundary Control Control Clustering at Projection Points
7-38 7-38 7-39 7-43 7-43 7-44 7-44 7-44 7-44
AutoGrid5™
Contents
Topology for High Staggered Blades Intersection Control Options 7-6 User Defined Topology Geometry Control Mesh Control Control Layer Page Create - Connect Pages View Control
7-47 7-48 7-49 7-51 7-51 7-54
7-7 Blade to Blade Optimization Introduction Optimization Control Optimization Steps Skewness Control Orthogonality Control Wake Control Level Multigrid Acceleration Non-Matching Control Periodic Boundary Optimization Multisplitter Control Skin Mesh Control Advice to Users Theoretical Aspect
8-3 3D Mesh - Interpolation 3D Blocks Naming Row Mesh Default Topology - H&I Topology - HOH Topology User Defined Topology Mesh in Bulb Mesh around Nozzle (Bypass) Mesh in Meridional Technological Effect Mesh in 3D Technological Effect 3D Boundary Condition Patches Generation Patch Naming Block Order Generate Full Mesh Number of Mesh Points.
9-3 Geometry Definition The ".geomTurbo" File CAD Import User Defined
9-2 9-3 9-3 9-3
9-4 Definition of Meridional Mesh Start Edition Mode Edition Mode Geometry Control Topology Control Create & Modify New Block Delete Existing Blocks Insert New Control Vertices Grid Points Clustering Grid Point Number Control Automatic Default Topology Optimization Steps Radial Expansion Automatic Detection Tools
9-5 Connection with Main Blade Channel Connection Types Multiple Connections
9-12 9-12 9-13
9-6 3D Generation
9-14
CHAPTER 10:3D Technological Effect
10-1
10-1 Overview
10-1
10-2 Configuration Management
10-1
10-3 Geometry Definition External Data File CAD Import
10-2 10-2 10-2
10-4 Edition Mode
10-3
10-5 Topology Management 3D effect library Copy/Paste Feature
10-4 10-4 10-5
10-6 3D Generation & Persistency
10-6
CHAPTER 11:Cooling & Conjugate Heat Transfer Modules
xiv
8-9 8-9
11-1
11-1 Overview
11-1
11-2 Conjugate Heat Transfer
11-1
AutoGrid5™
Contents
Mesh of Blade Solid Body Solid Body Configuration Solid Body Configuration (Default) Solid Body + Spanwise Holes Configuration Solid Body + Cooling Channel Configuration Solid Body + Basin Configuration Solid Body + Basin + Cooling Channel Configuration Solid Body + Cooling Channel Configuration Solid Body + Penny Configuration Solid Body + Squiller Tip Configuration Internal Offset Shape Control Parametric Mode External ".geomTurbo" File External CAD Data File Leading/Trailing Edge Wizard Basin / Tip Wall / Basin Bottom Wall Definition Mesh Generation Control Blade to Blade Control Internal Cooling Wall Streamwise Distribution. Number of Points in O-Mesh (Solid Blade Area) Special Configuration: Inserted Cooling Tube 3D Control Mesh of End Wall Solid Body Geometry Definition Topology Definition 3D Mesh Generation 11-3 Cooling - Blade Holes Blade Holes Methodology Blade Holes Properties Geometry Control Holes Number Control Holes Shape Control Holes Location Control Parametric Mode XYZ Mode (Px,Py,Pz) RTHZ Mode (Pr,Pth,Pz) Holes Axis Control Parametric Mode XYZ Mode (Vx,Vy,Vz) RTHZ Mode (Pr,Pth,Pz) Holes Dimension Control Circular Shape Rectangular & Oval Shapes Trailing Edge Groove Shape 4-Sided Shape Holes Orientation Control External Holes Definition File Data File for Circular Shape Holes Line
Data File for Rectangular Shape Holes Line Data File for Oval Shape Holes Line Data File for Trailing Edge Groove Holes Line Data File for Trailing Edge Circular Holes File Data File for 4-Sided Shape Holes Line Mesh Control Grid Points Distribution Optimization Control Wake Control Mesh Shape Control Global Control Blade Holes Mesh Generation Blade Holes Project Management
11-5 Cooling - End Wall Holes End Wall Holes Methodology End Wall Holes Properties ·End Wall Holes Mesh Generation
11-34 11-35 11-35 11-36
11-6 Cooling - Pin Fins Pin Fins Properties Pin Fins Box Definition From IGG™ Edit Mode From External Block File Pin Fins Lines Definition Pin Fins Mesh Generation
11-37 11-38 11-38 11-38 11-38 11-38 11-40
11-7 Cooling - Ribs Ribs Properties Ribs Box Definition From IGG™ Edit Mode From 3D View Ribs Geometry Control Ribs Mesh Control Ribs Mesh Generation
11-41 11-41 11-41 11-42 11-42 11-42 11-44 11-45
CHAPTER 12:Python Script
12-1
12-1 Overview
12-1
12-2 Running a Script File
12-1
12-3 Commands Description
12-2
xvi
AutoGrid5™
Contents
Configuration Commands Geometry Import Commands Viewing Commands NIConfigurationEntities Class Commands RowWizard Class Commands WindTurbine Class Commands B2B Cut Class Commands Row Class Commands Topology Management Row Boundaries Access Row Technological Effects 3D Access Row Blades Properties Row Properties Row Hub/Shroud Non-Axisymmetric Row Shroud Gap Non-Axisymmetric Row Hub/Shroud Solid Mesh Flow Paths Control Optimization Blade Class Commands Blade Expansion & Rotation Parameters Blunt & Sharp Blade Parameters Default Topology Parameters Topology Control Grid Points Control Mesh Control Intersection Control HOH Topology Parameters Topology Control Grid Points Control Leading Edge Grid Points Distribution Control Trailing Edge Grid Points Distribution Control Mesh Control H&I Topology Parameters Topology Control Grid Points Control Mesh Control Cooling - Conjugate Heat Transfer Parameters Blade Cooling Holes Control Cooling Channel & Basin Control Basin Holes & Separator Control Pin Fins & Ribs Control Gap Class Commands Fillet Class Commands WizardLETE Class Commands Blade Sheet Class Commands RSInterface Class Commands BasicCurve Class Commands StagnationPoint Class Commands TechnologicalEffectZR Class Commands
TechnologicalEffect3D Class Commands Cooling Channel Class Commands Hole Class Commands Hole Location Control Parametric Mode (all hole type excepted grooves) XYZ Mode RTHZ Mode Hole Axis Control Parametric Mode (all hole type excepted grooves) XYZ Mode (all hole type excepted grooves) RTHZ Mode (all hole type excepted grooves) Hole Dimension Control Circular Shape Rectangular/Oval Shape Grooves (Parametric Mode) Quadrilateral Shape (4-Sided) Hole Orientation Control HolesLine Class Commands External File Control Hole Line Geometry Control Holes Number Hole Shape Hole Location Hole Axis Hole Dimension Hole Orientation Hole Line Mesh Control Grid Points Number Optimization Wake Control Holes Line Mesh Shape Control Global Mesh Control Basin Class Commands Global Parameters Hole Parameters Basin Hole Separator Penny PinFinsChannel Class Commands PinFinsLine Class Commands External File Control Pin Fins Line Geometry Control Pin Fins Number Pin Fin Shape Pin Fin Location Pin Fin Axis Control Pin Fin Dimension Control Pin Fin Orientation Control Pin Fin Mesh Control
Grid Points Number Optimization Wake Control Holes Line Mesh Shape Control Global Mesh Control PinFin Class Commands Pin Fin Location Parametric Mode XYZ Mode UV Mode Pin Fin Axis Control Parametric Mode XYZ Mode Pin Fin Dimension Control Circular Shape Rectangular/Oval Shape Quadrilateral Shape (4-Sided) Pin Fin Orientation Control EndWall Class Commands End Wall Generation Control End Wall Parameters Control EndWallHole Class Commands Hole Location Control XYZ Mode MTheta Mode Hole Axis Control Parametric Mode XYZ Mode Hole Dimension Control Circular Shape Rectangular/Oval Shape Quadrilateral Shape (4-Sided) Hole Dimension Control EndWallHolesLine Class Commands External File Control Hole Line Geometry Control Holes Number Hole Shape Hole Location Hole Axis Hole Dimension Hole Orientation Hole Line Mesh Control Grid Points Number Optimization Wake Control Holes Line Mesh Shape Control Global Mesh Control
Welcome to the AutoGrid5™ User’s Guide, a presentation of NUMECA’s fully automatic grid generator for turbomachines. This chapter presents the basic concepts of AutoGrid5™ and shows how to get started with the program by describing:
• what is AutoGrid5™, • how to use this guide, • how to start AutoGrid5™.
1-2
Introduction
1-2.1
What is AutoGrid5™
AutoGrid5™ is an automatic meshing system for turbomachinery configurations developed to ease pre-processing for numerical computations on such configurations. Pre-processing consists of defining the geometrical description of the to-be-studied model and the discretization (mesh generation) of the to-be-studied domain. The number of computational nodes needed increases rapidly with the detail in the model. For 3D geometries, this easily reaches from 100,000 to 1,000,000 nodes and even higher. This vast number of nodes, along with the description of the complex geometries, necessitates the use of a powerful mesh generator that allows providing a computational mesh with sufficient quality in an automatic way. AutoGrid5™ enables to deal with complex geometries resulting in a structured mesh of high quality.
1-2.2
Features
The advanced tools of AutoGrid5™ enable to create mesh for a large range of gas turbines, fans and compressors:
• turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft,
AutoGrid5™
1-1
Getting Started
• • • • • • • • •
Introduction
turbojet and after burning turbojet, axial or centrifugal, single or multistage, including or not bulbs on the hub, with one or multiple splitter blades (centrifugal), with hub or shroud clearances, with bypass, with seal leakages, with meridional or 3D technological effects.
1-2.3
Structured vs. Unstructured
Depending on the geometry complexity, the user should define the requested mesh type: structured or unstructured. Structured meshes are to be preferred for reasons of accuracy in cases of aligned flow even if their generation can sometimes be difficult and cumbersome. Unstructured meshes can be easily generated independently of the geometrical complexity and owing to their nature generally tend to generate less points than in the structured case. For turbomachinery design, because of a request of high accuracy, it is recommended to use AutoGrid5™ which enables to provide adapted structured meshes. Users requiring an unstructured mesh may consider the use of the NUMECA automatic hexahedral mesh generation software Hexpress™.
1-2.4
Approach
To obtain fully automatic or semi-automatic grids with an optimal quality control, AutoGrid5™ takes advantage of the characteristics of turbomachinery configurations by creating blade to blade grids onto surfaces of revolution. The generation based on a conformal mapping between the 3D Cartesian space (XYZ coordinates) and the cylindrical surfaces of the 2D blade to blade space (dm/ r-θ plane) follows 4 main steps: 1.
Definition of the geometry:
— The blade surface description. — The curves for the definition of the hub and shroud surfaces of revolution. — The additional data needed to handle special features such as splitters, meridional or 3D technological effects. 2.
Generation of meridional flow paths. These flow paths define the meridional trace of the surfaces of revolution on which the 3D mesh will be built.
3.
Generation and control of 2D meshes on spanwise surfaces. This 2D generation enables the user to control the mesh topology, the grid clustering and the mesh orthogonality along the solid walls.
4.
Generation of the final 3D mesh. This generation combines the meridional flow paths and the 2D blade to blade meshes to create the mesh on surfaces of revolution. The use of the conformal mapping between the 3D Cartesian space and the 2D blade to blade space ensures conservation of quality in terms of orthogonality and clustering for each axisymmetric surface mesh.
The settings used to create a mesh are controlled interactively through dialog boxes. At the end of the grid generation process, all the parameters can be saved in a template file (".trb"). Meshes for similar geometries can be created automatically using this file.
1-2
AutoGrid5™
Introduction
Getting Started
1-2.5
Project Management
To manage complete mesh generation, AutoGrid5™ integrates the concept of project. An AutoGrid5™ project involves template files and mesh files:
a) Mesh files The mesh files contains the multiblock mesh topology, geometry, grid points, patch grouping and the boundary condition types:
• • • • • •
new_prefix.bcs: boundary conditions files new_prefix.cgns: grid points files (CGNS format) new_prefix.geom and new_prefix.xmt_txt (.X_T): geometry files new_prefix.igg: topology file new_prefix.qualityReport: mesh quality report file new_prefix.config: mesh configuration file used for the grouping in FINE™ GUI and for the subProject (more details in FINE™ User Manual)
These files can be loaded into the structured multiblock grid generation system IGG™ and by the CFD integrated environment FINE™/Turbo.
The mesh quality file is saved at the end of the grid generation. If the new project has not yet been saved before launching the 3D generation, no grid quality report file will be saved because the system is not able to determine automatically the file location.
b) Template files The template files contain the parameters and the geometry needed to reproduced the mesh with AutoGrid5™:
• new_prefix.geomTurbo and new_prefix.geomTurbo.xmt_txt (.geomTurbo.X_T): the geometry files (geomTurbo format)
• • • •
new_prefix.trb: the template file containing the grid generation parameters. new_prefix.info: the information file new_prefix_b2b.png: a picture of the blade to blade view new_prefix_merid.png: a picture of the meridional view
FIGURE 1.2.5-1 Example
AutoGrid5™
of file management for an AutoGrid5™ project
1-3
Getting Started
1-3
How To Use This Manual
1-3.1
Outline
How To Use This Manual
This manual consists of four distinct parts:
• • • • • • •
Chapters 1and 2: Introduction and description of the interface, Chapter 3: Mesh fundamentals, Chapter 4: Mesh generation wizard, Chapters 5 to 8: Mesh generation and parameters, Chapters 9 and 10: Meridional and 3D technological effects. Chapter 11: Cooling & Conjugate Heat Transfer Modules. Chapter 12: Script within AutoGrid5™.
At first time use of AutoGrid5™ it is recommended to read this first chapter carefully and certainly section 1-4 to section 1-6. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 give a general overview of the AutoGrid5™ interface and the way to manage a project. For every mesh generation, the input parameters can be defined as described in the Chapters 5 to 8. Chapters 9 and 10 give an overview of how to add technological effects in the Meridional or in the 3D view. Chapter 11 is describing how to define cooling holes, basin, cooling channel with pin fins/ribs and to mesh the solid body (blade and end walls). Chapter 12 is presenting python commands available within AutoGrid5™.
1-3.2
Conventions
Some conventions are used to ease information access throughout this guide:
• • • • •
Commands to type in are in italic. Keys to press are in italic and surrounded by <> (e.g.: press ). Names of menu or sub-menu items are in bold. Names of buttons that appear in dialog boxes are in italic. Numbered sentences are steps to follow to complete a task. Sentences that follow a step and are preceded with a dot (•) are substeps; they describe in detail how to accomplish the step.
The hand indicates an important note. The pair of scissors indicates a keyboard shortcut. A light bulb in the margin indicates a section with a description of expert parameters.
1-4
AutoGrid5™
First Time Use
Getting Started
1-4
First Time Use
1-4.1
Basic Installation
When using AutoGrid5™ for first time it is necessary that AutoGrid5™ is properly installed according to the installation note. The installation note provided with the installation software should be read carefully and the following points are specifically important:
• Hardware and operating system requirements should be verified to see whether the chosen machine is supported.
• Installation of AutoGrid5™ according to the described procedure in a directory chosen by the user and referenced in the installation note as ‘NUMECA_INSTALLATION_DIRECTORY’.
• A license should be requested that allows for the use of AutoGrid5™ and the desired component and modules (see section 1-6 for all available licenses). The license should be installed according to the described procedure in the installation note.
• Each user willing to use AutoGrid5™ or any other NUMECA software must perform a user configuration as described in the installation note. When these points are checked the software can be started as described in the installation note or section 1-5 of this users guide.
1-4.2
Expert Graphics Options
a) Graphics Driver The graphics area of AutoGrid5™ interface uses by default an OPENGL driver that takes advantage of the available graphics card. When the activation of OPENGL is causing problems, AutoGrid5™ uses an X11 driver (on UNIX) or MSW driver (for Windows) instead. It is possible to explicitly change the driver used by FINE™ in the following ways: On UNIX: in csh, tcsh or bash shell: setenv NI_DRIVER X11 in korn shell: NI_DRIVER=X11 export NI_DRIVER The selection will take effect at the next session. On Windows:
• Log in as Administrator. • Launch regedit from the Start/Run menu. • Go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/NUMECA International/Fine# or autogrid# register. • Modify the DRIVER entry to either OPENGL or MSW. The selection will take effect at the next session.
AutoGrid5™
1-5
Getting Started
How to Start AutoGrid5™ Interface
b) Background & Foreground Colors The background color of the graphics area can be changed by setting the environment variable NI_IGG_REVERSEVIDEO on UNIX/LINUX platforms or IGG_REVERSEVIDEO on Windows platforms. Set the variable to ’ON’ to have a black background (white axis) and set it to ’OFF’ to have a white background (black axis). The variable can be manually specified through the following commands: On UNIX: in csh, tcsh or bash shell: setenv NI_IGG_REVERSEVIDEO ON in korn shell: NI_IGG_REVERSEVIDEO=ON export NI_IGG_REVERSEVIDEO The selection will take effect at the next session. On Windows:
• • • •
Log in as Administrator. Launch System Properties from the Start/Settings/Control Panel/System menu. Go in the Environment Variables. Modify or add the IGG_REVERSEVIDEO entry to either ON or OFF.
The selection will take effect at the next session. Furthermore, the background and foreground colors of the graphics area can be adapted through File/Preferences menu available within IGG™ in the Colors page.
1-5
How to Start AutoGrid5™ Interface
In order to run AutoGrid5™, the following command should be executed: On UNIX and LINUX platforms type: igg -niversion # -autogrid5 On Windows platforms: 1.
click on the IGG icon in Start/Programs/NUMECA software/Fine# or in Start/Programs/ NUMECA software/autogrid#. Then AutoGrid5™ is accessible through the menu Modules/ AutoGrid5.
2.
alternatively AutoGrid™ can be launched from a dos shell by typing:
\Fine#\bin\igg.exe or \autogrid#\bin\igg.exe where NUMECA_INSTALLATION_DIRECTORY is the directory indicated in section 1-4.1. Then AutoGrid5™ is accessible through the menu Modules/AutoGrid5.
1-6
AutoGrid5™
Required Licenses
Getting Started
1-6
Required Licenses
1-6.1
Standard AutoGrid5™ License
The standard license for AutoGrid5™ allows for the use of all basic features of AutoGrid5™ including:
• • • • • • • •
CAD importation and geometry management (except CATIA v5), single row and multistage management, skin, HOH and H&I blade-to-blade topology management, wind turbine mesh wizard, introduction of blade to blade cut, no meridional technological effect, no 3D technological effect, no solid mesh, cooling channel, holes, pin fins and ribs.
1-6.2
Additional Licenses
Within AutoGrid5™ the following features are available that require a separate license:
• • • • • •
CATIA v5 importation, introduction of bypass configuration, introduction of meridional technological effect, user-defined blade-to-blade topology management, introduction of 3D technological effect, introduction of solid mesh, cooling channel, holes, pin fins and ribs.
Next to AutoGrid5™ other products are available that require a separate license:
When launching AutoGrid5™ as described in Chapter 1 the interface appears in its default layout as shown in Figure 2.1.0-1. An overview of the complete layout of the AutoGrid5™ Expert Mode interface (see Chapter 4 for AutoGrid5™ Wizard Mode interface) is shown on the next page in Figure 2.1.0-2. In the next sections the items in this interface are described in more detail.
FIGURE 2.1.0-1 AutoGrid5™
Expert Mode Interface.
Together with the AutoGrid5™ interface, a Open Turbo Project Wizard window is opened, which allows to open an existing project. See section 2-2.2 for description of this window.
AutoGrid5™
2-1
Graphical User Interface
Project Selection
A File Chooser window is available for browsing through the file system and to select a file. More detail on the File Chooser window is given in section 2-8.
Menu bar (section 2-3) Toolbar (section 2-4)
Graphics area (section 2-7)
Quick Access Pad (section 2-5) Viewing Buttons
Message area KeyBoard Input Area
Information area
Mouse coordinates Generation Status Grid parameters area
FIGURE 2.1.0-2 AutoGrid5™
2-2
Control area (section 2-6)
Graphical User Interface (Expert Mode)
Project Selection
Together with the AutoGrid5™ interface, a Open Turbo Project Wizard window is opened, which allows to open an existing template with or without the corresponding mesh. See section 2-2.2 for description of this window. After use of this window it is closed. To create or open a template or a project is also possible using the File menu.
2-2.1
Create New Template/Project
To create a new template or project when launching the AutoGrid5™ interface: 1.
2-2
close the Open Turbo Project Wizard window.
AutoGrid5™
Project Selection
2.
3.
Graphical User Interface
select File/New Project or click on the New Project icon ( which allows to confirm. Click yes to confirm.
). A new window will appear,
A project initialization window appears to assign a geometry to the new project. There are five possibilities: • to start a new project presenting a bypass (if license key) from scratch.
• • • •
to start a new project presenting a bypass and a fin on fan (if license key) from scratch. to start a new project presenting no bypass and no fin on fan from scratch. to start a new project presenting a cascade configuration from scratch. to initialize a new project from an existing ".geomTurbo" file. Then a File Chooser window is available for browsing through the file system and to select a file. When clicking on OK (Open) the geometry is loaded in AutoGrid5™.
2-2.2
Open Existing Template/Project
If the Open Turbo Project Wizard window is closed, select File/Open Project. A new window will appear, which allows to confirm. Click yes to confirm.
To open an existing project the following possibilities are available in the Open Turbo Project Wizard window:
• Click on the icon Select a Project File. A File Chooser will appear that allows to browse to the location of the existing template. Automatically the filter in the File Chooser is set to display only the files with extension ".trb", the default extension for a template file. If the option Load Mesh is active, the corresponding mesh will also be loaded. • Select a Project in the List by left clicking on it, this list contains all projects available in the local AutoGrid5™ library. To view all information on the selected template, click on Info>>. To remove the selected template from the list, click on Hide. To open the selected template click on Open Template or double-click on the selected template. To open the selected project (the template with the corresponding mesh) click on Open Project.
AutoGrid5™
2-3
Graphical User Interface
2-3
Main Menu Bar
Main Menu Bar
The menu bar contains a part of available options of AutoGrid5™. Menu items can be activated using click and drag or click and release modes.
2-3.1
File Menu
2-3.1.1 Open Project The menu item File/Open Project allows to open an existing AutoGrid5™ project. When clicking on File/Open Project a new window will appear, which allows to confirm. Click yes to confirm and to open the Open Turbo Project Wizard window presented in section 2-2.2.
2-3.1.2 New Project The menu item File/New Project allows to create a new AutoGrid5™ project. When clicking on File/New Project a new window will appear, which allows to confirm. Click yes to confirm an to open the project initialization window presented in section 2-2.1.
2-4
AutoGrid5™
Main Menu Bar
Graphical User Interface
2-3.1.3 Save Project / Save Project As The File/Save Project or File/Save Project As menu item stores the project file (template and mesh) on disk. When clicking on File/Save Project As a new window will appear, which allows to:
• Save the project (template and grid) under a new name when clicking on the icon Select a new Project File Name.
• Save the project (template and grid) under an existing name selected in the list when clicking on the icon Overwrite the Selected Project. • Add information to the project in the Enter Project Info area.
2-3.1.4 Save Template / Save Template As The File/Save Template or File/Save Template As menu item stores the template files (template ".trb" and geometry ".geomTurbo") on disk. When clicking on File/Save Template As a new window will appear, which allows to:
• Save the template under a new name when clicking on the icon Select a new Template File Name. • Save the template under an existing name selected in the list when clicking on the icon Overwrite the Selected Template. • Add information to the project in the Enter Template Info area.
AutoGrid5™
2-5
Graphical User Interface
Main Menu Bar
2-3.1.5 Save Grid -> Save Grid As The File/Save Grid/Save Grid As menu item stores the grid files on disk to enable to launch a computation within FINE™/Turbo 8.7.
2-3.1.7 Save Grid -> Save Grid As Fine 7.4 The File/Save Grid/Save Grid As Fine 7.4 allows to save the grids generated in the current version of AutoGrid5™ in a format compatible with IGG™ 5.7 (FINE™/Turbo 7.4).
2-3.1.7 Save Grid -> Save Grid As Fine 8.6 The File/Save Grid/Save Grid As Fine 8.6 allows to save the grids generated in the current version of AutoGrid5™ in a format compatible with IGG™ 8.6.
2-3.1.8 Save Grid -> Merge Project Grid The File/Save Grid/Merge Project Grid menu item allows when dealing with multistage machine already generated to adapt the ".cgns" file when regenerating one or more rows of the machine based on a new geometry but still meshed with the same topology. Steps 1.
Generate full mesh of the multistage machine,
2.
Save project,
3.
Change geometry of one or more rows,
4.
Regenerate mesh of rows presenting new geometry but keep same topology,
5.
Merge project grid
2-3.1.9 Save Grid -> Save Fluid Domain(s) In addition to the save subproject feature (more details in section 2-5.4.3 and in FINE™ User Manual), the menu Save Fluid Domain(s) creates and saves a subproject named SubProject Fluid containing only the fluid blocks of the project. Transfer File List
2-3.1.10 Project List -> Transfer File List The File/Project List/Transfer File List menu item enables to store a library of project files contained in the project list when selecting File/Open Project.
2-3.1.11 Project List -> Open File List The File/Project List/Open File List menu item enables to load a library of project files accessible afterwards through the Project Selection and Template Selection windows
2-3.1.12 Scripts -> Edit File/Scripts/Edit... opens a dialog box displaying some of the commands performed by the user when defining the geometry using Import CAD window, when performing a technological effect,... The user can easily edit this script (add, remove and modify commands). More details on the available commands are presented in the Chapter 12.
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The dialog box contains two pull-down menus. File menu allows to open a script in a separate dialog box and to save the script in a file. Run menu allows to run the script shown in the window under the current session ("Rerun on top").
2-3.1.13 Scripts -> Save All File/Scripts/Save All... is used to save the dynamic recording of all commands performed by the user since the beginning of its session.
2-3.1.14 Scripts -> Execute File/Script/Execute... is used to run a python script file containing IGG™ commands. A file chooser is opened to select a file with a ".py" extension. Upon selection of a valid file, the script is executed in the current session and the result is visualized in the graphical window. Depending on the content of the script, operations will be added to the current project or a new project will be automatically opened before operations are performed (The previous project is closed). If the script being run contains a syntactical error it will be aborted and a message will appear in the shell.
2-3.1.15 Scripts -> Re-execute Last File/Script/Re-execute Last can be used to rerun the last script that was run using the Scripts/Execute... command. This option is most useful when writing own scripts manually to rapidly test it on the fly.
2-3.1.16 Print -> As PostScript File/Print/As PostScript is used to dump the graphics area in a true PostScript file. This option uses true Postscript statements to save the graphics content and can produce compact files when all graphics entities in AutoGrid5™ consist of lines (i.e. visualization of the grid in wireframe). When displaying surfaces in solid model, the quality of the saving reduces considerably while the size of the file can become very large.
2-3.1.17 Print -> As Bitmap PostScript File/Print/As Bitmap PostScript is used to dump the graphics area in a bitmap PostScript file. In this mode each pixel of the graphics area is saved in the file. The size of the file can be very large. Bitmap saving may be more advantageous than true postscript when solid surfaces in hidden line mode appear in the graphics area.
2-3.1.18 Print -> As PNG File/Print/As PNG is used to dump the graphics area in a PNG file.
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2-3.1.19 Export -> IGES File/Export/IGES... menu is used to export geometry entities in the standard IGES format. The entire geometry repository can be saved or only the selected curves and surfaces. The length unit must also be specified through the following dialog box:
2-3.1.20 Export -> Geometry Selection File/Export/Geometry Selection... is used to save the selected geometry curves and surfaces into an ASCII file. Only the curves and surfaces selected respectively by the Geometry/Select/Curves and by the Geometry/Select/Surfaces options are saved.
When selected geometry is containing Parasolid™ and/or CATIA V5 entities, a Parasolid™ file will also be saved in addition of ".dat" file.
2-3.1.21 Export -> Geometry Control Points File/Export/Geometry Control Points... is used to save the control points of the selected geometry curves into an ASCII file. It does not save the complete information about the curve (type, parametrization,...). The files created in this way are not intended to be directly read by AutoGrid5™. Their main use is to print out the coordinates of the control points of the curves.
This option is only available for curves, not for surfaces.
2-3.1.22 Export -> Block Coor File/Export/Block Coor... is used to save the coordinates of an active block range in ASCII format, according to the level of coarseness selected for the grid (set by using View/Coarse Grid menu item). A warning is given if the grid has not been created yet. The standard block grid file format is used and is detailed in IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 11. The block range to save must be determined by two points, specified by their IJK coordinates in the keyboard input area (indices start at 1): Enter imin jmin kmin (q) Enter imax jmax kmax (q) By default, values for the full block range are displayed.
2-3.1.23 Export -> Face Coor File/Export/Face Coor... is used to save the coordinates of the active face in ASCII format, according to the level of coarseness selected for the grid (set by using the View/Coarse Grid menu item). The standard surface grid file format is used and is detailed in the IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 11.
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2-3.1.24 Export -> Patch Coor File/Export/Patch Coor... is used to save the coordinates of the active face patches in ASCII format, according to the level of coarseness selected for the grid (set by using the View/Coarse Grid menu item). The standard face grid file format is used and is detailed in the IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 11. One file is created for each patch of the active face and is named automatically by appending the patch number to the specified file name. The files are written with a ".dat" extension.
2-3.1.25 Export -> Plot3D File/Export/PLOT3D... is used to save the coordinates of all grid blocks in a PLOT3D format file. The saved file will have a ".g" extension and its format is described in the IGG™ User Manual Chapter 11. The following dialog box is opened to select a file with a ".g" extension and the corresponding file format.
FIGURE 2.3.1-1 Output
file and file format selection
The following file types can be selected in the File type entry:
• • • • •
ASCII Binary single Binary double Unformatted single Unformatted double
Binary stands for C binary files whereas Unformatted stands for Fortran binary files. Single and double describe the precision of reals. Then two radio buttons are provided to select the binary order desired in the output file: little or big endian. This information must be specified only for binary files (the buttons are deactivated when ASCII type is selected). The desired file can be selected by entering its full path name into the Plot3D File entry or through a file chooser opened by pressing the icon (
) next to the file entry.
2-3.1.26 Import -> IGG Project File/Import/IGG Project... is used to merge an existing IGG™ project stored on disk with the currently opened project. It allows several people working on large projects to perform the meshing in separate sessions and to merge their work at a later stage.
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a) Prefix To easily recognize blocks and groups of an imported project from those in the current project, a prefix can be specified during importation. For this purpose, a dialog box is provided:
Upon proper prefix specification, all the names of patches, blocks, geometry groups and block groups will be automatically prepended with the prefix. For example, if a block being imported is named "Inlet"and a prefix "stage1" is specified, the name of the block within the current session will be "stage1#Inlet". Due to limitations in the CGNS format, the length of the prefix should be limited to 5 characters. Moreover it cannot begin with a number. If no prefix is specified blocks and groups names will not be modified. Exception to this rule holds however when an imported block has the same name as a block in the current project. In that case an underscore will be automatically appended to the name. Pressing on the Cancel button will cancel the importation of the selected project in AutoGrid5™.
b) Importation operations During project importation the following operations are performed:
• All the curves and surfaces from the imported project are added to the current project. When a name clashing occurs with existing curves or surfaces, AutoGrid5™ automatically renames the imported entities. The prefix currently does not apply to curves and surfaces.
• All the blocks of the imported project are appended to the existing blocks. The index of the imported blocks is adapted automatically to follow the last block of the current project. The name of the patches and blocks follow the rule described here above.
• The geometry and block groups are imported in the current project. The names of the groups follow the rule described here above.
2-3.1.27 Import -> IGG Data File/Import/IGG Data... is used to read external curves and surfaces stored in an ASCII IGG™ format. The file formats are specific to IGG™ (Curve & Surface data files) and are described in IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 11. When using the option, a file chooser is opened to select files with ".dat" or ".dst" extensions. Upon acceptance, the entities are automatically stored in the geometry repository and displayed in the graphical area.
A fitting of the view may be needed to see all the entities properly.
Since AutoGrid5™ uses the name of curves and surfaces to access them, no duplicate is allowed. During importation of a geometry file, AutoGrid5™ checks for name duplication. When an entity being loaded has the same name as an existing entity in the current session, a dialog box is opened with different possibilities:
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FIGURE 2.3.1-2 Importation
options dialog box.
Replace: When using this mode, AutoGrid5™ replaces the existing curve or surface by the one being imported. At the end of importation, AutoGrid5™ remaps all the vertices and edges lying on the replaced entities so that the topology of the grid fits onto the new geometry. This mode should be used when using the current project as a template. See the chapter related to templates for additional information. Don’t Load: When using this mode, the entity having the same name will NOT be imported in the session. Auto Rename: When using this mode, AutoGrid5™ imports the entity and automatically modifies its name so that it becomes unique in the current session. If no replacement is desired (as described above), this option should be used.
2-3.1.28 Import -> External Grid File/Import/External Grid... is used to import inside the current AutoGrid5™ project a block grid generated either by IGG™/AutoGrid5™ (using File/Export/Block Coor... menu item) or by another grid generator. A file chooser is opened to select a file with a ".dat" extension. Several file formats are available:
• Block data file • Surface data file (2D or 3D wireframe) • Multiple surface data file (2D or 3D wireframe) See the IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 11 for a detailed description of the formats. Upon selection of a valid file, a new block (or several for multiple data files) is created and put at the end of the list of blocks. For "Surface data file", which represent surfacic meshes, only face 1 of the block is created. For 2D meshes, the z coordinate is set automatically to 0 for all the points. AutoGrid5™ automatically creates the block topology (edges) by using the boundary grid points of the block.
2-3.1.29 Import -> Face Grid File/Import/Face Grid... is used to import and copy a 2D or 3D grid surface to the active face or to a BC patch on this face. A file chooser is opened to select a file, which must have a ".dat" extension and have the Surface data file format (see the IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 11 for more information about this format). The type of surface and the edge creation mode are indicated from the key-
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board input area. If the edges of selected surface are on the boundaries and the edge creation flag is on, the segments of that edge are created as polylines. When the active face contains several patches, the imported grid can be copied on the entire face or on one of its patches. In this case, the following prompt(s) appear: Surface (=0) or Patch (=1) ? (q) >> 1 Patch number (1...3) ? (q) (if previous answer is 1) >> 2 Then the following prompt will appear to specify if edges must be reconstructed by using the face boundary grid points: Create boundary segments (y/n) ? >> y
2-3.1.30 Import -> Topology The option File/Import/Topology... allows to re-use an existing IGG™/AutoGrid5™ project on a similar geometry by importing all the topology and grid information from the related ".igg" file. The complete current project is deleted before importing. During the import operation, the following happens:
• all the geometry entities are discarded from the imported project. • the geometry groups are loaded, emptied from any curve or surface. • the grid information like number of blocks, connection between blocks, clustering,... is kept.
• the blocks topology (vertices and edges) is kept, as well as their position and shape. • the face generation recording, including the projection on geometry groups is kept. Then, to use the imported topology on a similar geometry, do the following:
• Import the new geometry with the File/Import/IGG Data... or IGES... options. • Redefine the geometry groups by selecting the proper surfaces and by adding them to the existing groups (right button press on a geometry group pops up a menu for adding or removing the current geometry selection).
• Remap all the vertices manually onto the new geometry. New vertices may be added if the topology of the new geometry has changed. Regenerate the faces with the Regenerate Face option. It is to be noted that face projected onto a geometry group will be successfully re-projected if the groups have been redefined as described in the previous operation.
2-3.1.31 Import -> CATIA V5 The option File/Import/CATIA V5... reads external geometry files in CATIA format. Several CATIA files can be opened when defining the geometry before the domain creation.
CATIA importation is optional and subject to an additional license file allowing the user to import CATIA V5 file within AutoGrid5™.
2-3.1.32 Import -> Parasolid The option File/Import/Parasolid... reads external geometry files in Parasolid™ format ".x_t". Several Parasolid™ files (Parasolid™ and CATIA v5) can be opened when defining the geometry before the domain creation.
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Importation is not available on 64 bits platforms except LINUX x86_64. Please refer to the installation note for more information about the 64 bits supported platforms. The supported Parasolid™ version is 19.
2-3.1.33 Import -> IGES File/Import/IGES... menu is used to import CAD data stored in the standard IGES format. When names are defined for entities the IGES file, AutoGrid5™ uses them for the new entities created in the repository. When these names are already used by existing entities, a dialog box is opened to resolve the conflict. See the menu option File/Import/IGG Data... for details about the dialog box.
FIGURE 2.3.1-3
IGES file browser
This option provides a powerful browser to scan the content of an IGES file and selectively import IGES entities recognized by AutoGrid5™. In the case of composite curves and surfaces, the browser allows to view each component defining the entity and to select them individually. Filters, reserved to expert users, allows to filter the data viewed by the browser. Each filter corresponds to a criterion defining if entities with the corresponding attribute set accordingly will be displayed in the browser/imported. It might be useful to uncheck the Blank Filter/Blanked item in order to import only the entities meant to be visible and get a clear view of the intended geometry. The same holds for the Entity Use Filter with only the geometry item checked. For the Subordinate Filter items, it might be useful to also have the both item checked if top-level entities cannot be translated, preventing the importation of their depending entities.
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The Filters default settings have the following items checked: all Blank Filter items, all Entity Use Filter items but the definition item, the Subordinate Filter independent and logical items, all Hierarchy Filter items. See the IGES reference manual for a complete understanding of all filter values. The list of available IGES entities that can be imported in AutoGrid5™ are presented in the table below. Entity Type Nr
Entity Type
100
Circular Arc
102
Composite Curve
104
Conic Arc
106
Copious Data (only curves and not points in AutoGrid5 ™)
110
Line
112
Parametric Spline Curve
114
Parametric Spline Surface
116
Point
120
Surface of Revolution
122
Tabulated Cylinder
126
Rational B-spline Curve
128
Rational B-Spline Surface
130
Offset Curve AutoGrid5™)
140
Offset Surface
142
Curve On Parametric Surface
144
Trimmed Parametric Surface
158
Sphere
196
Spherical surface
(only
uniform
offset
in
2-3.1.34 Import -> PLOT3D File/Import/PLOT3D... is used to import inside the current AutoGrid5™ project block(s) generated either by IGG™/AutoGrid5™ (using File/Export/PLOT3D... menu item) or by another grid generator. The imported file must have a ".g" extension and have the PLOT3D file format, as described in IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 11. The following dialog box is opened to select a file with a ".g" extension and the corresponding file format.
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FIGURE 2.3.1-4 Input
file and file format selection
The following file types can be selected in the File type entry:
• • • • •
ASCII Binary single Binary double Unformatted single Unformatted double
Binary stands for C binary files whereas Unformatted stands for Fortran binary files. Single and double describe the precision of reals. Then three buttons are provided to select the remaining file specifications. These ones must be specified only for binary files (the buttons are deactivated when ASCII type is selected). The two first radio buttons allow to select the binary order in the file: little or big ending. The last button specifies if the file is single or multi-block. The desired file can be selected by entering its full path name into the Plot3D File entry or through a file chooser opened by pressing the icon (
) next to the file entry.
Upon selection of a valid file, the blocks of the imported file are created and put at the end of the current list of blocks. AutoGrid5™ automatically creates the block topology by using the block coordinates.
2-3.1.35 Import -> CGNS File/Import/CGNS... is used to import CGNS grid files inside the current AutoGrid5™ project. CGNS is a widely used standard for the exchange of CFD data. In particular it is very well suited to exchange meshes and boundary conditions between heterogeneous systems. Block coordinates and boundary conditions are read from the ".cgns" file. Only connections of type CON can be read and performed automatically by AutoGrid5™. It is to be noticed that a CGNS file is automatically created during the saving of a project, using the File/Save options. This file can be reread by AutoGrid5™ using this option or exchanged with other CGNS compliant systems. The imported file must have a ".cgns" extension and must be a valid CGNS format, as described in IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 11. A file chooser is opened to select a file with a ".cgns" extension. Upon selection of a valid file, the blocks of the imported file are created and put at the end of the current list of blocks. AutoGrid5™ automatically creates the block topology by using the block coordinates.
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2-3.1.36 Import -> GridPro File/Import/GridPro... is used to import inside the current AutoGrid5™ project block(s) created by the GridPro grid generator. A file chooser is opened to select a GridPro file. Upon selection of a valid file, the blocks of the imported file are created and put at the end of the current list of blocks. A message indicating what block is read appears in the AutoGrid5™ message area. AutoGrid5™ automatically creates the block topology by using the block coordinates. Blocks connection information is read by IGG™ and patch decomposition is automatically performed. Periodicity information is not read from the file and must be specified manually within AutoGrid5™, when required, using the Grid/Periodicity... and Grid/Boundary Conditions... menu items.
2-3.1.37 Preferences The File/Preferences opens a dialog box to control the default settings of AutoGrid5™. This dialog box contains three pages. All the parameters are validated by pressing the Apply button, which applies the option and automatically saves them in the file ~/.numeca/igg.preferences. When starting AutoGrid5™, this file is read automatically and the preferences are restored directly. If this file cannot be found, the system is initialized with default settings.
a) Saving Page
Backup when saving is used to make a backup of the geometry and topology files at saving. AutoGrid5™ backups the project using a ".bak" extension (.igg.bak). Ask quality check when saving option is used to make automatically some tests on the grid each time a project is saved. It includes:
• A calculation of the number of multigrid levels available in the I, J and K directions for the whole grid.
• A calculation of the negative cells in single and double precision.
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• A rough idea of the grid quality (extremum values) in terms of orthogonality, aspect ratio and expansion ratio. The results are displayed in a dialog box appearing automatically just after the saving. Save CGNS patch info option is used to save automatically boundary conditions information as connection type, full non matching connection definition,... in the ".cgns" file. The Keep Row(s) Name option is used to control the way the row names and blade names are saved in the cgns file:
• "ROW()" and "BLADE()" where i is the row and blade number when Keep Row(s) Name is not active.
•
row and blade names imposed in AutoGrid5™ (Quick Access Pad/Rows Definition) when Keep Row(s) Name is active.
Keep Left Handed Orientation After Saving option (when deactivated) is used to keep lefthanded blocks when saving in order to decrease the time needed for saving or loading intermediate meshes including multiple blocks (e.g. blade with cooling holes and channel with ribs and pin fins).
b) Graphics Page
The Graphics Driver flag is used to select the driver X11. The Visibility flag is used to control the rendering of graphic objects during dynamic viewing operations. With full visibility, all graphic objects are displayed during viewing operations, which may slow down the system response. When partial visibility is selected, only grid boundaries are displayed during viewing operations. Turn On Additional Lights option allows to enhance the lightening for shaded representations. Edges width frame allows to control the width of the block edges displayed in the graphics area. The width of the active block edges can be controlled by Highlight width and the width of other block edges by Normal width. Grid Line Width allows to control the width of the grid lines displayed in the graphics area.
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Geometry Curve Width allows to control the width of the geometry curves displayed in the graphics area. Meridional channel shading option allows to have the channel in the meridional view represented with shading. B2B Full Mesh Visibility option allows to see the mesh moving in the blade to blade view when applying the modified blade to blade mesh parameters. This option is interesting for demo purposes but it is not recommended to keep it active when generating the 3D mesh. B2B Full Quality Visibility option allows to see the mesh skewness (orthogonality) field moving in the blade to blade view when applying the modified blade to blade mesh parameters. This option is interesting for demo purposes but it is not recommended to keep it active when generating the 3D mesh. Automatic 3D Mesh Viewing option allows to see the 3D solid mesh (section 2-3.3.8) when loading a project or after generating the mesh.
c) Layout Page
This page allows to control some aspects of the AutoGrid5TM graphical interface. Quick Access Pad is used to toggle the Quick Access Pad. Control Area toggles the visibility of the control area at the bottom of AutoGrid5™ main window. It allows to use a larger part of the screen for better graphics rendering, but cannot be used during the interactive generation of a mesh, since it hides the keyboard input area and the viewing buttons. Balloon Help is used to activate or deactivate the on-line balloon help available in AutoGrid5TM. When activated, help balloons are displayed when the cursor is located on some buttons or icons. Progress Status is used to toggle the progress status window when performing the mesh generation. Optimization Convergence History toggles the convergence history window when performing the mesh generation.
2-3.1.38 Quit File/Quit is used to end the interactive session. A dialog box is inserted to confirm the end of the session. Please notice that the current work is NOT automatically saved when exiting AutoGrid5™.
2-3.2
Geometry Menu
All menus are described in detail in the dedicated IGG™ User Manual - Chapter 9. This menu is only available when selecting the 3D view or when adding a 3D technological effects (AutoGrid5™ User Manual - Chapter 10).
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2-3.3
Graphical User Interface
View Menu
The View menu options provide a set of display options to visualize the grid boundaries, surface and block grids, repetition, hidden lines and rendered surfaces. The viewing parameters and projection can also be modified interactively.
2-3.3.1 Patch Viewer View/Patch Viewer... is used to visualize selected patches in wireframe or solid mode to produce full rendered pictures of the grid. The dialog box provides control over the colour and transparency effects for each patch. Patch Browser: The patch browser (see figure below) lists all the patches in the grid, according to the current Block, Face, Patch or Type filters. In this browser, one or more patches can be selected with the left mouse button. It is possible to select several patches at once in the following way:
• While holding the key down, select the desired patches in the browser. • While holding the key down, select two patches delimiting a range of patches. • While pressing the left mouse button, drag the mouse and release the left button to select a range of patches. Patch browser, allowing to select the current patch(es)
Visibility control during transparency setting
Solid visualization control
Wireframe visualization control
Show the selected patches as wireframe Hide solid for selected patches Hide wireframe for selected patches FIGURE 2.3.3-1 Patch
Show the selected patches as solid Viewer dialog box
Filters: The different filters allow to display specific patches of a grid in the browser while hiding the others. The Block, Face and Patch filters work together and allow to display patches by indices. For example: Block Filter:
’*’
Face filter:
’1 2’
Patch filter:
’*’
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shows in the browser all the patches of faces 1 and 2 of all the blocks. ’*’ means ALL. The Face filter allows also to select a boundary face by choosing imin, imax, jmin, jmax, kmin or kmax. These items can be shown and selected by left-clicking on the Face filter arrow. The Type filter is very useful to list all the patches of a given type (according to the other filters). In particular it allows to easily identify the periodic and connected patches (PER, PERNM, CON, NMB) and the patches that have not any type yet (UND). Patch visualization: To assign a color to one or several patches: 1. Select
the patches in the patch browser,
2. Select
one color from the predefined colors or from customized colours (Ed. button),
Press the Show Grid (wireframe representation) or the Show Solid (solid representation) button.
3.
To hide the patches representation, proceed in the same way by pressing the Hide Grid or the Hide Solid button. It is possible to make some patches semi-transparent by specifying a transparency factor on the selected patches. The transparency factor can vary from 0 (no transparency) to 1 (highly transparent). By default, the transparency factor is only applied when pressing the Show Solid button. This default may be overwritten by activating the Full Visibility toggle button. In this case, the transparency effect will be recomputed each time the transparency slider is moved. Since the rendering of transparent patches is computationally intensive and may take up to several minutes, it is not advised to use the Full Visibility flag on large grids.
2-3.3.2 Sweep Surfaces View/Sweep Surfaces... is used to scroll the constant grid index surfaces within 3D grid blocks. If the active block is not generated or has been modified since the last generation (by moving a vertex, for example), the following message will appear:
FIGURE 2.3.3-2 Message indicating
that the block may be regenerated
It asks for block regeneration. If the block is not generated and that the no button is pressed, the dialog box of the next figure will appear but without being able to do something except pressing the Close button. If the block has been modified since the last generation (a block is not automatically regenerated after modifications of its topology) and that the no button is pressed, the mesh that will be interactively displayed (see below) may look quite strange.
Mesh sweeping is done through the following dialog box:
FIGURE 2.3.3-3 Sweep
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Surfaces dialog box.
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The Block box allows to choose the active block in which the surface grids will be scrolled. Next to this box, the active block name and the amount of grid points in each direction (according to the coarse grid levels selected) are displayed.
It is to be noticed that setting the Block to 0 allows to scroll the grid surface on all blocks.
The I, J and K scrollers allow to interactively sweep the surface grid along the three directions. While scrolling, surface grids are displayed for each constant index direction.
2-3.3.3 Coarse Grid View/Coarse Grid is used to view in the meridional, blade to blade and 3D views the selected coarse grid level in the active view. When selecting the menu, a dialog box allows to impose the Coarse Grid Level to plot.
FIGURE 2.3.3-4 Coarse
level viewer
In the meridional and blade to blade views, the option is available when respectively the flow paths and the blade to blade mesh are generated. In the 3D view, the coarse grid levels can be plotted on the active block or grid. To select the scope (active block or grid), set the viewing scope (see the Quick Access Pad/View/Grid page description) to Block or Grid mode. The active coarse grid levels are taken into consideration while:
• displaying the block faces and boundary conditions patches on all active views, • saving the block or face coordinates, • scrolling the block surface grids or cells. These graphical representations are automatically updated after each change to the coarse grid levels. The finest grid level is identified as 1. The smallest number of grid points for coarse levels is 2. The coarsest level is computed and updated in each index direction separately. The keyboard input area is used to enter the desired levels within available ranges.
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2-3.3.4 Repetition View/Repetition... opens the following dialog box to control the repetition of the blocks on the active view (in 3D and blade-to-blade views only):
FIGURE 2.3.3-5 View
Repetition dialog box
For each block, the number of repetition desired can be set in the Nb Repet entry. The repetition of all blocks can be displayed or hidden respectively by pressing the Show or Hide button. To perform a repetition, AutoGrid5TM takes the information about the periodicity of each block (angle, rotation axis,...) in the Grid/Periodicity dialog box. By default, the repetition is not displayed.
2-3.3.5 Face Displacement View/Face Displacement menu allows to adapt the view if interferences are appearing between the grid lines and the shading. When the block face grids are visualized, in both wireframe and solid modes (shading), visual interference may be produced between the grid lines and the shading. For this reason, AutoGrid5™ slightly shifts the grid lines towards the user to get a correct picture. This shift is controlled by the Face displacement. This parameter represents the amount by which the grid is shifted along the view plane normal vector (normal to the screen), and is used to correct the display when combining wireframe and solid representations. The following window is shown to enter the face displacement (higher or equal to 1).
Apply and Close to respectively apply the new parameter and close the window.
2-3.3.6 View Depth View/View Depth menu allows to control the view depth. This depth is used for all interactive geometry editing operations with the mouse. When using the option, the new depth for the active view is imposed by entering the coordinates of the reference point: New reference pt coordinates (q) >> 0 0 0
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All subsequent inputs with the mouse will be at z = 0. To quit this option, enter and press .
2-3.3.7 Toggle 3D Solid View View/toggle 3D Solid View is used as a toggle to show shaded view of the complete hub and single blade on each of the rows of the turbomachine in the 3D view. The number of blades in the graphics area can be repeated for each row individually using the Number Of Graphics Repetition parameter available in the Row Properties dialog box. Activate the Default option to see a complete view of all the blades of the selected row.
FIGURE 2.3.3-6 3D
solid view with graphics repetition
2-3.3.8 View/Hide 3D Solid Mesh View/view 3D Solid Mesh and View/hide 3D Solid Mesh are used to respectively show or hide in the 3D view the mesh on hub and blades (shading and mesh on hub/blades). Furthermore, the View/ Patch Viewer... menu can be used to adapt or to clean the visualized solid mesh.
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2-3.3.9 View 3D Solid Block View/view 3D Solid Block is used to show in the 3D view the mesh on the solid blocks (shading and mesh).This option is not a toggle, the View/Patch Viewer... menu has to be used to adapt or to clean the visualized solid mesh.
basin Blade including basin– cooling holes cooling holes
2-3.3.10 Toggle Throughflow Mesh View/toggle throughflow mesh is used as a toggle to show the throughflow mesh in the meridional view. This mesh is used for the initial turbomachinery solution available in FINE™ GUI (EURANUS).
2-3.3.11 Toggle Tool Bar / Symbolic View / Configuration/IGG Panel View/Toggle Tool Bar is used as a toggle to show or hide the toolbar presented in section 2-4. View/Toggle Symbolic View is used as a toggle to show or hide the symbolic view presented in section 2-7.1. View/Toggle Configuration Panel is used as a toggle to show or hide the quick access pad presented in section 2-5. View/Toggle IGG Panel is used as a toggle to show or hide the quick access pad of IGG™ available when activating the 3D view or performing a 3D technological effect as presented in section 10-4 and in IGG™ User Manual.
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2-3.4
Grid Menu
The Grid menu includes the connectivity and boundary conditions definitions, as well as the grid quality tools.
2-3.4.1 Periodicity Grid/Periodicity... menu is used to check or to define the periodicity for each block of the grid to generate and it is defined automatically depending of the number of blades in the row in the following dialog box. Index of the block affected by "Apply" (0 applies the settings to all the blocks)
Periodicity parameters, function of the periodicity type
Periodicity type
Clears the parameters
Close the box Applies the current settings to the specified block
FIGURE 2.3.4-1 Periodicity
dialog box
In this box, the following things can be specified: Block number: The periodicity can be defined block by block or for the whole grid. To define the periodicity for the whole grid, the block number should be set to ’0’. All subsequent "Apply" will affect ALL the blocks of the grid, overwriting previous settings. Periodicity type: Three types of periodicity can be specified:
— Rotation: A rotation periodicity rotates a block around a given axis by a specified angle. The rotation axis is specified by a rotation axis direction (axis) and an anchor point (origin). The angle is indirectly specified by indicating the number of periodicities for the block, e.g. a compressor with 4 blades should have a number of periodicities of 4, and the number of meshed passages is directly specified.
— Translation: A translation periodicity, e.g. a cascade in turbomachinery, is obtained by specifying a translation vector, in direction and magnitude. For example, a translation vector of (0,0,2) will repeat a block along the Z axis by 2 absolute units.
— Mirror: A mirror periodicity mirrors a block with respect to a symmetry plane and is specified by the origin and normal of the mirror plane. To choose among these types, simply left-click on it. The dialog box contains also three buttons at the bottom:
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• Apply: it applies the current settings to the specified block(s). • Clear: it resets the periodicity parameters to default values for the specified block(s). • Close: it closes the dialog box.
2-3.4.2 Boundary Conditions Grid/Boundary Conditions... menu item allows to check or to serve three different purposes performed automatically within AutoGrid5™: 1.
To divide the faces of the grid into patches, for grid generation purposes.
2.
To specify the boundary conditions on these patches, as input to a flow solver.
3.
To establish connection between the patches.
When invoking the menu item, a dialog box is opened:
FIGURE 2.3.4-2 Boundary
Conditions dialog box
a) Patch Browser The patch browser (see Figure 2.3.4-2) lists all the patches in the grid, according to the current "Block", "Face", "Patch", "Type", "MG.Level" or "Name" filters. In this browser, a patch can be selected with the left mouse button. This patch is automatically visualized in the graphics area according to the visualization options in the dialog box:
• Show Grid will display the grid of the patch. • Show Solid will display the patch as a solid face. It is possible to select several patches at once in the following ways: 1.
While holding the key down, select the desired patches in the browser.
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2. 3.
Graphical User Interface
While holding the key down, select two patches delimitating a range of patches. While pressing the left mouse button, drag the mouse and release the left button to select a range of patches.
The last patch selected is always the ’current patch’ for manual connections and patch editing.
b) Filters The different filters allow to display specific patches in the browser while hiding the others. The "Block", "Face" and "Patch" filters are cumulative and allow to display patches by indices. For example: Block Filter:
’*’ (’*’ means ALL)
Face filter:
’1 2’
Patch filter:
’*’
shows in the browser all the patches of faces 1 and 2 of all the blocks. The "Face" filter allows also to select a boundary face by choosing imin, imax, jmin, jmax, kmin or kmax. These items can be shown and selected by left-clicking on the "Face" filter arrow. The "Type" filter is very useful to list all the patches of a given type (according to the other filters). In particular it allows to easily identify the connected patches (CON, NMB, PER, PERNM) and the patches that have not any type yet (UND). The "MG.Level" filter can be used to see the list of patches for a given multigrid level. The "Name" filter allows to display patches by name. Enter or choose an expression. All the patches of which the name contains this expression will be listed.
c) Patch Type Specification An option menu allows the setting of the boundary condition type for the selected patch(es). The possible boundary condition types are the following:
• • • • • • • • • • • •
UND : undefined type. INL : inlet. OUT : outlet. EXT : external. Used to impose farfield conditions. SOL : solid. Used for walls. SNG : singular. Used for patch degenerated into a line. MIR : mirror. Used to impose a symmetry plane. ROT : rotating. Used for rotor-stator interaction. CON : matching connection. NMB : non matching connection. PER : periodic matching connection. PERNM : periodic non matching connection.
The following types can be set manually: INL, OUT, EXT, SOL, SNG, ROT, MIR. To set such a type, left-press on the Set Patch Type button of the dialog box; a list with all the types that can be set manually appears. Move the cursor to the desired type and release the left button to set it to the selected patch(es). If a patch is involved in a full non matching connection, a "*" will appear next to the patch type.
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d) Patch Definition & Editing The patch definition mode is enabled by pressing the Edit Patch >> button. The dialog box is then enlarged to show a symbolic definition of the current face, as shown in the following figure.
Edit Patch area Symbolic face representation
patch limits
Clicking the right mouse button pulls down a menu for deleting or dividing the patch: Current patch
Clicking on the border allows to change the patch limits Close Edit Patch area
Current patch info FIGURE 2.3.4-3 Patch
editing
In this example the active face has three patches with a topology indicated in the figure. The current patch is represented in yellow. The current patch can be changed by clicking with the left mouse button within the rectangle corresponding to the desired patch. The current patch is automatically updated in the browser and in the graphics area. An information area is used to display information about the current patch (limits, indices and relative orientation of the connected patch if existing, and patch type). See Manual Connectivity Settings section for information about the relative orientation. The patch definition mode is disabled by pressing the "<<" button (see Figure 2.3.4-3).
e) Automatic Connectivity Search Automatic connectivity search allows to perform connections between patches (matching and non matching, periodic or not). For periodic connections, the block periodicity must be set previously by using the Grid/Periodicity... menu item. Matching connections are obtained between two patches with same number of grid points along the two directions, and when all their points are matching at a specified tolerance. Non matching connections are obtained when some patches points are not matching at the specified tolerance, or when the number of grid points is not the same in one or both directions.
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A periodic connection between two patches (PER or PERNM) is equivalent to a simple connection, after application of the periodicity of the block to one of the patch. The following checks are performed by AutoGrid™ when trying to connect two patches:
• Four patch corners must be matching at the given tolerance ("patch corner" means the patch grid point at the corner of the patch).
• Four patch boundaries must be matching at the given tolerance ("patch boundaries" means curves passing through the patch grid points defining the patch limits).
• Patch points must lie on a same common surface. For this, some points of the first patch are projected on the surfacic cells of the second patch. An intersection must be found and the distance between the point and its projection must be lower than an internally calculated value based on the given tolerance and the patch dimension.
• All the patch points must be matching at the given tolerance. Obviously, when number of grid points is different in one or both directions, this test is never satisfied. The three first tests are performed for both matching and non matching connections and determine if a connection is possible between the two considered patches. The last test determines if the connection is matching or non-matching. The relative orientation of the two patches is automatically found after the three first tests and is assigned to the connection. Three interactors are provided with the automatic connectivity search: one field to input the absolute tolerance used to compare point coordinates, another one to delete all connections currently set (CON, NMB, PER, PERNM types) and one to start the search.
FIGURE 2.3.4-4 Automatic
connectivity search interactors
To make a new automatic connectivity search on all the patches, left-click on the Delete All button to delete all connections currently set. To delete only some connections, select the corresponding patches and set the patch type to UND by using the related button. Before starting the automatic search, the tolerance must be adjusted. It is specified in absolute units in the Tol input field. For example, if the mesh coordinates range from 0 to 1, a possible value is 1e5, whereas if the mesh coordinates range from 0 to 10000, a value of 1e-3 is more appropriate. The default value that is set at the dialog box opening is 1e-5.
It is highly recommended to avoid setting a tolerance close to the patch size, otherwise connection can be wrongly found. For example, having two square patches of size 1 and distant of 2, a tolerance of 3 will connect them whereas they should remain disconnected.
The search can be started by clicking on the Search button. At the end of the operation, the number of simple connections found as well as the number of periodic connections are displayed in the information area. The "Type" filter is automatically set to CON and the corresponding patches are listed in the Patch browser.
AutoGrid5™
It is advised to do this search operation after all the blocks have been properly defined and are ready to be used by the solver.
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f) Manual Connectivity Settings When automatic connectivity search fails, the manual connectivity option can be activated by pressing the Manual... button. Within this option, the relative orientation of the two selected patches must be entered manually and checks are performed according to the connection type selected to detect if the connection is possible or not. This option opens a dialog box shown below:
Connection type
Connected patch
Relative orientation of the patches
FIGURE 2.3.4-5 Manual
Connectivity dialog box
Firstly, specify the indices of the patch that will be connected to the current patch and the connection type. Patch indices are defined as follows: Block, Face and Patch index. Enter them with the keyboard and validate them by pressing . Secondly, the correct relative orientation of the two patches must be chosen. To define this, a reference patch is needed, which is always in this case the current patch selected in the "Patch browser". In general, with a couple of patches, by taking either the first or the second one as reference, the relative orientation will be different. In fact, for each patch, two axis can be defined, which are equal in direction and orientation to those of the block to which it belongs. So, there are three possibilities: I, J or K. To connect two patches, their relative orientation must be determined by specifying the correspondence between their axis. It is done by assigning an expression (such as "Ilow", "Khigh") for each axis. (expression = dir 1 for first axis and expression = dir 2 for second one). Dir 1 and dir 2 are determined as follows: 1.
Take the first axis of the reference patch.
2.
Search the axis of the connected patch which has the same direction, that is to say X (where X is I, J or K).
3.
If the two axis have the same orientation, dir 1 = "Xhigh", else dir 1 = "Xlow".
4.
Do the same with the second axis of the reference patch to determine dir 2.
The first axis of the reference patch has to be chosen as follows:
— axis (I, J) -> I — axis (J, K) -> J — axis (I, K) -> I Example:
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Reference patch: Patch 1 - Patch 1 first axis: I - Dir 1: Klow - Dir 2: Ihigh Indeed, it can be seen that Patch 1 axis I increasing corresponds to Patch 2 axis K decreasing, while Patch 1 axis J increasing corresponds to Patch 2 axis I increasing. The correct relative orientation specification should consequently be: "Klow", "Ihigh". After pressing "Apply", AutoGrid5™ checks whether the connection is possible or not. A warning appears if the connection cannot be set.
g) Full Non Matching Connections This type of connection allows to connect several patches of several blocks with non matching boundaries. The definition of such connection consists of the following:
• A connection name. • A list of “left” patches defining one side of the connection. • A list of “right” patches defining the other side of the connection. The patches in one list are not restricted to belong to the same face or same block.
It is to be noticed that full non matching connections are always defined on top of existing patches and that these ones must have a valid basic type (no undefined type (UND)), even if the patch is entirely contained in the connection region. In the case a patch has an undefined type (UND) and is used in the definition of the FNMB (full non matching boundary), AutoGrid™ automatically sets its type to solid (SOL). This is required by the solver to run properly. However, the type is not reset to UND when deleting a FNMB connection, even if the SOL type has been set automatically by AutoGrid™.
Following rules must be respected when performing FNMB connections: 1.
A patch can be contained in only one list (either the left patches list or the right one) and one type of FNMB connection (fluid-solid or solid-solid). Patch contained in two FNMB connections
2.
For periodic FNMB connections, all the patches defining the connection must have the same periodicity information.
FIGURE 2.3.4-6 Full
Non Matching Connections dialog box
To define and edit full non matching connections: Press the Full Non Matching/Define... button of the Patch Selector dialog box (Grid/Boundary Conditions... menu). It opens the dialog box shown on Figure 2.3.4-6.
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This dialog box contains two patch browsers to define the left and right patches lists. The use of the patch browsers and filters is the same as for the Patch Selector dialog box. A list containing the connections already defined is displayed on the right of the dialog box. To define a FNMB connection:
• Select the patches defining the “left” side. These patches are highlighted in yellow in the graphics area.
• • • •
Select the patches defining the "right" side. These patches are highlighted in blue. Enter a name for the connection. Select the Periodic button to define a periodic FNMB connection. Select the Repetition number to allow periodic FNMB connection that is not covering the same area (option compatible with EURANUS starting from FINE™/Turbo 7.1-1). The number of repetition has to be set in order to fully cover one side (yellow patch(es) - "left" side list of patch(es)) with the other side (blue patch(es) - "right" side list of patch(es)) and its repetition.
NOT CORRECT
CORRECT
• Press on the Create/update button to define the FNMB connection. • This connection will appear in the connection list. Once a connection is created, patches can be added and/or removed from it. Simply update patches lists by clicking on them and press the Create/update button. To compute a FNMB connection: Once a connection is defined, it is possible to visualize the triangulation of the common region by pressing the Compute & Show button. This triangulation is not directly used in AutoGrid™ but only serves to visualize the triangulation that will be used by the solver and to verify that the connection is correctly performed. Calling this item is optional in AutoGrid™. This calculation can be performed on the desired grid level by selecting it freely in the Grid level computed entry (this parameter is global and not saved in connections). Moreover several parameters can be controlled by pressing the Options button. It opens an additional frame:
FIGURE 2.3.4-7 FNMB
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The process of the computation involves that one side of the connection is triangulated whereas the other side is projected on it. Default values should normally be used. If the computation fails, parameters can be tuned. These parameters are local to each connection and saved into it, therefore to be taken into account they must be set before creating the connection or the button Create/update must be pressed once a parameter is modified. ADT algorithm: to use the new projection algorithm based on the use of the Alternating Digital Trees (ADT). The main advantage of this method is a decrease of the time required by the projection stage. Reverse triangulated side: to reverse the triangulated side which is by default the one containing the greater number of points. Maximum projection distance: when the projection distance of a point is greater than this value, it is rejected. Minimum projection distance: when all the points of a patch (contained in the projected side of the connection) have a projection distance greater than this value, the patch projection is rejected. Normals smoothing steps: before projection, some smoothing steps are done on the projection normals. Edge attraction: after the triangulation process, while projecting the vertices on both the sides of the FNMB, sometimes the projections end close to some boundary of the triangles, which impacts negatively on the robustness of the treatment. The edge attraction tolerance removes this impact and forces the projected point to belong to the triangle boundaries whenever necessary. To view and/or delete an existing FNMB connection:
• Left-click on the desired connection in the connection list to select it. • The patches participating in the definition of the connection will be automatically highlighted in the dialog box as well as in the graphics area. A "*" is also displayed next to the patch type to indicate that the patch is involved in a FNMB connection. If the computation of the triangulation was performed for this connection, it will also be shown on the screen.
• To list only the patches involved in the desired connection, middle-click on it in the connection list.
• Press the Delete button to delete the selected FNMB connection (the type of the corresponding patches is unchanged).
h) Rotor/Stator Connections This type of connection allows to connect several patches of several blocks with rotor/stator boundaries. The definition of such connection consists of the following:
• A connection name. • A list of “left” patches defining one side of the connection. • A list of “right” patches defining the other side of the connection. The patches in one list are not restricted to belong to the same face or same block.
AutoGrid5™
It is to be noticed that such connections are only required to have the information in ".cgns" file.
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2-3.4.3 Grid Quality This item gives access to a tool for performing an analysis of the flow paths quality (if meridional view active), of the grid quality of the blade-to-blade mesh (if blade-to-blade view active) and on the final 3D mesh generated (if 3D view active). The following dialog box will appear:
3D View Meridional View
Blade-to-Blade View
FIGURE 2.3.4-10 Mesh
Quality dialog box
This dialog box contains two or three pages, one dedicated to analyse the grid quality on whole block cells, and the second to the grid quality at the block boundaries (boundary faces), including matching connections with adjacent blocks. The items for both pages are similar and described here after. The quality criteria are just slightly different. The last page (FNMB) only available for the 3D mesh allows to control the mesh quality along the full non matching connections. The Row list or Block entry allows to choose the row or block in which the quality will be analyzed. It is selected by respectively its name or its number. Each change must be validated by pressing to recompute the quality checking.
• In meridional and blade-to-blade views, if all rows selected (left-click and ), the mesh quality is analyzed on all rows.
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• In 3D view, if 0 is entered, the mesh quality is analyzed on all the blocks of the grid. Next to this entry, the selected block name and the grid points number in each direction are displayed. By default, when opening this dialog box, the active block is selected. If the selected block is not generated or has been modified since the last generation (by moving a vertex, for example), the following message will appear:
FIGURE 2.3.4-11 Message
indicating that the block may be regenerated
It asks for block regeneration. If the no button is pressed, the quality analysis is not performed.
The next entry Butterfly block is a special item dedicated to butterfly topologies allowing to choose the butterfly block in which the quality will be checked. When the block selected in the first entry is a parent block, the second entry is activated, displaying the number of the butterfly block which is analyzed. The range goes from 0 to 6. The number 0 represents the inner block and is therefore always present. The other numbers between 1 and 6 represent the parent face number and thus the associated buffer blocks. If there is no associated buffer, the corresponding number does not appear. The Quality Criterion frame is used to choose the criterion type which will be used to analyze the block cells quality. The criterion is chosen through the Type pull-down menu. According to the criterion, a preferential direction can be chosen through the second pull-down menu Direction (only for Block page in 3D view). It is used when the criterion gives different results along different directions (for example 2D criterions applied on surfacic cells). When it is not the case, this menu is deactivated. The following possibilities are available: All, I, J or K. ’All’ is equivalent to the three directions I, J, K. Moreover, a range can be selected for each criterion; each range modification must be validated by pressing . The Visualization control frame is used to select the representation mode of the cells. Cells can be displayed with markers and/or with a shaded representation (Cells button). Markers are useful to detect cells that cannot be seen with the shaded representation only. Moreover, cells shading can be deactivated to greatly improve the speed of representation. In the shaded representation, cells are shaded with a different color according to their quality value. The link between colors and values is established by a colormap which is displayed in the graphics area after the tool selection. The range of the colormap is automatically updated according to the criterion range. The cells can be displayed as surfaces (in meridional, blade-to-blade and 3D views) or volumes (in 3D view) by switching on the corresponding button.
Blade-to-Blade View
AutoGrid5™
3D View
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The Display frame is used to show in the AutoGrid5™ graphics area the cells falling inside the quality criterion range. The Display all cells (All cells) button shows all the bad quality cells of the selected block(s). The Sweep cells scrollers, only available in 3D view, allow to sweep the selected block to display cells by constant I,J,K face. The Show chart button is used to toggle a histogram displaying the result of the quality checking. Left-clicking on a bar displays the corresponding cells in the AutoGrid™ graphics area.
FIGURE 2.3.4-12 Quality
analysis histogram
The entry Number of intervals is used to select the number of bars of the histogram. The default value is 5 and the maximum number is 10. Each new number must be validated by pressing . The More info button is used to toggle a window giving more information about the quality checking: minimum and maximum values with their location (and possibly the block number in which they are detected if the check is performed on all the blocks in the 3D view).
a) Quality Criterion Definitions (Block Page) These criteria are dedicated to evaluate the grid quality on whole cells of a block.
• Criterion class Two classes can be defined according to the type of element on which criterion is applied:
• 2D criterions: application on surfacic cells (quadrilateral cells) • 3D criterions: application on volumic cells (hexahedral cells) Obviously, the number of cells falling in the criterion range is always greater for a 2D criterion than for the equivalent 3D one because an hexahedral cell contains six quadrilateral cells. This means that, for a 2D criterion, the number of cells falling in the range can easily be greater than the block number of points. On the other hand, as 2D criteria are applied on surfacic cells, they are all direction dependent.
• Criteria definition Following criteria are available:
Each one is described here below. Overlap 2D criterion available in meridional view. Range: 0 - 1. Overlap allows to detect overlapping cells (flow paths) in the meridional view when the value is set to 1. Orthogonality 2D criterion available in blade-to-blade and in 3D views. Range: 0 - 90 degrees. Orthogonality is a measure of the minimum angle between edges of the element. If angle between two edges is greater than 90 degrees, the value taken into account is (180 - real angle). Angular deviation 3D criterion available in 3D view. Range: 0 - 180 degrees. Angular deviation is a measure of the angular variation between two adjacent cells in I, J and K directions. Cell 2
a 1 + a2 + a 3 + a4 x I = ----------------------------------------4
b1
Cell 1
b1 + b 2 + b3 + b 4 y I = ----------------------------------------4
b4
a1
b2 b3
a4 a2
Angular deviation along I-direction = ∠( x I, y I )
a3 FIGURE 2.3.4-13 Angular
deviation definition
Aspect ratio 2D criterion available in blade-to-blade and 3D views. Range: 1 - 50,000. If the calculated value is outside the range, the value is reset to 50,000.3 c b
a d a+b x = -----------2
c+d y = -----------2
max ( x, y ) Aspect Ratio = -----------------------min ( x, y ) FIGURE 2.3.4-14 Aspect
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Expansion ratio 3D criterion available in meridional, blade-to-blade and 3D views. Range: 1 - 100. Expansion Ratio is a measure of the size variation between two adjacent cells. It is direction dependent. If the calculated value is outside the range, the value is reset to 100. Obviously, this criterion is nonsense if there is only one cell in the selected direction.
K
b1
b4
a1
b2 b3
a4 a2 a3 max ( x, y ) Expansion Ratio (K) = -----------------------min ( x, y ) FIGURE 2.3.4-15 Expansion
a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 x = ----------------------------------------4 b 1 + b2 + b3 + b4 y = ----------------------------------------4
Ratio definition
Cell width 3D criterion available in 3D view. Range: 0 - 1,000,000. Cell width is the height of the cell measured along I, J and K directions. If the calculated value is outside the range, the value is reset to 1,000,000.
b) Quality Criterion Definitions (Boundaries Page) These criteria are dedicated to evaluate the grid quality at the boundaries of a block (boundary faces), including matching connections with adjacent blocks (only CON and PER boundary faces are considered). Following criteria are available:
• • • •
Orthogonality (available in blade-to-blade and 3D views), Angular Deviation (available in blade-to-blade and 3D views), Expansion Ratio (available in meridional, blade-to-blade and 3D views), Cell Width (available in 3D view).
Each one is described here below. Orthogonality Range: 0 - 90 degrees. Orthogonality is a measure of the cell angle relatively to the block boundary (face). If angle is greater than 90 degrees, the value taken into account is (180 - real angle).
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Block boundary face
a1
N a4 a2
a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 x = ----------------------------------------4
a3
Orthogonality = ∠( x, N )
FIGURE 2.3.4-16
Orthogonality definition
Angular deviation Range: 0 - 90 degrees. Angular deviation is a measure of the angular variation between two adjacent cells, the first one being in the current block and the adjacent one in the matching connected block. Obviously, this criterion is nonsense if there is no matching connected block. Connected block a 1 + a2 + a3 + a4 x = ----------------------------------------4
b1
Current block b4
a1
b2
b1 + b 2 + b3 + b4 y = ----------------------------------------4
b3
a4
Angular deviation = ∠( x, y )
a2 a3 FIGURE 2.3.4-17 Angular
deviation definition
Expansion ratio Range: 1 - 100. Expansion Ratio is a measure of the size variation between two adjacent cells, the first one being in the current block and the adjacent one in the matching connected block. Obviously, this criterion is nonsense if there is no matching connected block. The definition is the same as for the Block page (see before). Cell width Range: 0 - 1,000. Cell width is the height of the cell measured normally to the block boundary (face). If the calculated value is outside the range, the value is reset to 1,000.
c) Quality Criterion Definitions (FNMB Page) These criteria are dedicated to evaluate the grid quality across fully non-matching boundary (FNMB) connections.
FNMB connection must be computed with the fine mesh level before checking the quality.
Following criteria are available:
• Expansion ratio • Cell Width Ratio
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Graphical User Interface
Main Menu Bar
• Inner Gap • Relative Inner Gap Each definition is described here below. Expansion Ratio Range: 1 - 100. This computes the expansion ratio perpendicularly and through the FNMB for each cell involved in the FNMB connection. This criterion is symmetric, which means the result is the same on the left and right parts of the FNMB. Cell Width Ratio Range: 1 - 1000. This computes the difference of cell size between each side of the FNMB. It is available for each cell involved in the FNMB connection. It identifies how many cells are connected to the cell considered. The criterion takes into account the "wall fraction", which means one left cell is connected to only a part of a right cell. Then the ratio will be balanced according to the size of the connected part. This criterion is not symmetric, which means the result is not the same on the left and right parts of the FNMB. Example: One cell (A) on the left, four cells (B, C, D and E) on the right covering exactly the left cell. The result will be 4 for cell A (because this cell is connected to 4 right cells) and 0.25 for each right cell, B, C, D or E (because each one is connected to only 0.25 part of the left cell).
Inner Gap Range: 1 - 1e6. This computes the gap between the left and right side of the FNMB (absolute distance). It is available for each cell involved in the FNMB connection. This criterion is symmetric. Relative Inner Gap Range: 1 - 1000. It is exactly the same as the previous criterion except that the result is balanced with the cell size perpendicular to the FNMB. It enables the user to have a better idea on how the order of magnitude of the gap is compared to the cell size around FNMB. The cell size taken into account can be either the one of the left or the right side (depending on which side has been done the FNMB projection) but it does not matter as if the cell size is too different on both sides, the expansion ratio criterion will be bad.
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AutoGrid5™
Main Menu Bar
Graphical User Interface
2-3.4.4 Grid Quality Report A mesh quality report can be displayed with the top menu item Grid/Grid Quality Report. It includes the characteristics of the mesh in terms of minimum and maximum of the expansion ratio, the expansion ratio and the angular deviation along spanwise direction (J), the aspect ratio and the cells skewness. These data are available for the entire mesh or by configurations entity (row, technological effect, bulb).
FIGURE 2.3.4-18
3D grid generation and quality check
Negative cells are detected and indicated on top of the histogram as well as the blocks where there are located at the bottom of the histogram. The number of multigrid levels of each entity (row and technological effects) is listed in the Mg. Level column. If the spanwise angular deviation exceeds 40 degrees, a warning appears at the bottom of the window that indicates the blocks where the maximum value has been reached.
2-3.4.5 Grid Quality Report (HTML) The Grid/Grid Quality Report (HTML) menu (not available on Windows) allows to automatically write a mesh quality report. When selecting the menu, a window enables to select the images that will be inserted into the report and provides disk usage necessary for the report and images.
AutoGrid5™
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Graphical User Interface
Main Menu Bar
projectname_main.html
Quality Report
3D Mesh of Whole Machine
projectname_rowname.html
left-click Quality Data
Blade-to-Blade Images
3D Mesh Images
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AutoGrid5™
Main Menu Bar
Graphical User Interface
2-3.4.6 Negative Cells Grid/Negative cells... is used to compute, store the indices and show the cells with a negative volume. The following dialog box is provided to select calculation preferences:
FIGURE 2.3.4-19 Preferences
dialog box for Negative cells calculation
Four preferences can be controlled:
• Scope: determines whether the calculation will proceed on the active block or on all blocks. • Coord Sys: specifies whether calculation should proceed using a left-handed local reference frame for each cell or a right-handed one.
• Precision: specifies whether to perform calculation in single or double precision. This preference is the most important to control. Indeed, AutoGrid5™ always works in double precision. However some solvers may work in single precision. Consequently, checking negative cells in double precision in AutoGrid5™, with no negative cells as a result, may give negative cells in the solver !
• Coarse Levels: specifies on which multigrid level the calculation should proceed. The All button allows to perform the calculation on all the available uniform multigrid levels at once, "uniform" meaning that the levels are equal in the three directions I, J and K, for example "0 0 0", "1 1 1" and "2 2 2". The "Custom" button allows to select a specific multigrid level, like "1 2 2". The Apply button performs the negative volumes calculation. If the active block is not generated or has been modified since the last generation (by moving a vertex, for example), the following message will appear:
FIGURE 2.3.4-20
Message indicating that the block may be regenerated
The View neg cells button allows to visualize cells with negative volume. The computation of the negative volumes is performed automatically as a first step. Cells with negative volumes are displayed in a shaded representation and with markers, which are useful to detect cells that cannot be seen only with the shaded representation.
AutoGrid5™
Beware that the visualization of negative cells can be memory consuming when a large number of cells must be displayed. It is then advised to first check the number of negative cells by pressing the Apply button.
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Graphical User Interface
Toolbar
If no cell with negative volume is detected, the message "No negative cells" appears. On the contrary, if there are cells with negative volumes after the complete search, a message like the following will appear:
FIGURE 2.3.4-21
Grid contains cells with negative volume
It shows the number of each block containing negative cells and the corresponding number of negative cells. For butterfly topologies, the calculation is performed on all the butterfly blocks of the corresponding parent block. The number of negative cells of each butterfly block is added and displayed in the previous dialog box by referencing the parent block.
2-3.4.7 Compute All Fnmbs Grid/Compute All Fnmbs is used to ease the calculation of the full non matching connections by computing all full non matching connections defined in the menu Grid/Boundary Conditions at once on all available grid levels. A window appear when full non matchings are failing on specific grid level(s).
2-3.4.8 Create Face / Create Block Grid/Create Face... and Grid/Create Block... are used to respectively create and adapt the mesh on a face or in the block. The available features are fully described in the Chapter 9 of the IGG™ User Manual.
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Toolbar
The toolbar contains icons and buttons providing fast input/output options (See in the related chapters the complete description of the icon functions). These are divided into 6 sections.
Project Management Icons
View & Mesh Quality Icons
Mesh Generation Buttons
Mesh Control Icons
FIGURE 2.4.0-1 Top
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User Mode
Contextual Icons
toolbar
AutoGrid5™
Toolbar
Graphical User Interface
2-4.1
User Mode
By clicking on the arrow at the right the user may select the user mode.
The Wizard Mode will give access to a mesh wizard presented in Chapter 4. For most projects the available parameters in the Wizard Mode are sufficient. When selecting Expert Mode, the user will have access to all parameters presented in Chapters 5 to 11. These parameters may be useful in some more complex projects.
2-4.2
Project Management Icons
These icons are related to the most often used options of project management. TABLE 1. Project
Icon
Management icons
Description Opens an existing project previously created by AutoGrid5™. See the File/Open Project menu item description on section 2-3.1.1. Closes the current project and opens a new empty one. See the File/New Project menu item description on section 2-3.1.2. Saves the current work in the files of the current project. See the File/Save Project menu item description on section 2-3.1.3.
2-4.3
Mesh Generation Buttons
These buttons are used to start the mesh generation with different scope of application. TABLE 2. Mesh
Buttons
Generation buttons Description Reset all topology and the grid points number according to the grid level chosen by the user AutoGrid5™. Generate the flow paths of the selected rows See the Generate Flow Paths button description on Chapter 6. Generate the flow paths and the blade to blade mesh of the selected rows. See the Generate B2B button description on Chapter 7. Generate the flow paths, the blade to blade mesh and the 3d mesh of the selected rows. See the Generate 3D button description on Chapter 8.
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Graphical User Interface
2-4.4
Toolbar
View & Mesh Quality Management Icons
These icons are related to view management and the mesh quality analysis. TABLE 3. View
Icon
& Mesh Quality Management icons Description Open the Mesh Quality dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the Grid/Grid Quality menu item description on section 2-3.4.3. Open the Grid Quality Check dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the Grid/Grid Quality Report menu item description on section 2-3.4.4. Open the Negative Cells dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the Grid/Negative Cells menu item description on section 2-3.4.6. Open the Patch Selector dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the Grid/Boundary Conditions menu item description on section 2-3.4.2. Select the grid level used by AutoGrid5™ to visualize the mesh. See the View/Coarse Grid menu item description on section 2-3.3.3. Open the Sweep Surface dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the View/Sweep Surface menu item description on section 2-3.3.2. Act as a toggle and perform a repetition in the blade-to-blade or 3D views based on the settings imposed by the user in the View Repetition dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the View/Repetition menu item description on section 2-3.3.4. Visualize or hide the solid model of the machine in the 3D view. See the View/toggle 3D Solid View menu item description on section 2-3.3.7. Set the active view in full display mode.
Reset the display mode to multiview.
2-4.5
Mesh Control Icons
These icons open dialog boxes use to change the mesh parameters. TABLE 4. Mesh
Icon
Control icons Description Select all the rows of the current project.
Create new control lines in the meridional view.
Open the Row: Flow Path Control dialog box.
Open the dialog box dedicated to the blade to blade topology control.
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AutoGrid5™
Toolbar
Graphical User Interface
TABLE 4. Mesh
Icon
Control icons Description Open the Optimization Properties dialog box.
Open the Inlet Bulb Mesh Topology dialog box. Displayed only if AutoGrid5™ detects a bulb at inlet (hub reaches R=0). Open the Outlet Bulb Mesh Topology dialog box. Displayed only if AutoGrid5™ detects a bulb at outlet (hub reaches R=0).
Open the Nozzle Mesh Topology dialog box. Displayed only in case of machine with by-pass
2-4.6
Contextual Icons
During an AutoGrid5™ session, the contextual icons are updated according to the active entity (rows, blades, hub/shroud gap, fin, control lines). These icons are used to manage these entities.
2-4.6.1 Row Management Icons TABLE 5. Row
Management icons
Icon
Description Remove the selected row(s) from the project database.
Copy the selected row topology into a buffer.
Replace the selected row(s) topology by the topology stored into the current buffer.
Open the Row Properties dialog box.
Open a file chooser used to select a ".geomTurbo" file which contains the (new) geometry of the row. Add a new blade to the selected row (s) (splitter blade or tandem blade).
Define a hub gap for the blade(s) of the selected row(s). Define a shroud gap for the blade(s) of the selected row(s).
2-4.6.2 Blade Management Icons TABLE 6. Blade
Icon
Management icons Description Remove the selected blade(s) from the project database.
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Graphical User Interface
Icon
Quick Access Pad
Description Copy the selected blade to blade topology into a buffer.
Replace the selected blade to blade topology by the topology stored into the current buffer. Open a file chooser used to select a ".geomTurbo" file which contains the (new) blade geometry. Open the Blade Expansion dialog box.
Define a hub gap for the selected blade(s).
Define a shroud gap for the selected blade(s).
2-4.6.3 Shroud & Hub Gap Management Icons TABLE 7. Shroud
Icon
& Hub Gap Management icons
Description Remove the selected gap(s) from the project database.
Copy the selected gap(s) topology into a buffer.
Replace the selected gap(s) topology by the topology stored into the current buffer. Open a Gap Properties dialog box.
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Quick Access Pad
The Quick Access Pad is located in the left part of the GUI. It contains icons and more evolved options providing a fast access to the more used functions of AutoGrid5™. Some of these functions are only accessible through the Quick Access Pad whereas others are also accessible through the menu bar, so that their description will be referenced to these menus. The pad is divided into four subpads, each of which can be toggled by a simple mouse left-click:
All the commands and options accessible with these subpads are described in detail in this section.
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Quick Access Pad
Graphical User Interface
The four subpads are composed of pages containing buttons, icons, input areas. The icons perform specific function related to the subpad and the page. Each page can also be toggled by a simple mouse left-click.
Rows Definition subpad to control the machine configuration
Geometry Definition subpad to define the geometry of hub, shroud, nozzle and blades
Mesh Control subpad to control the mesh in meridional and blade-to-blade views
View subpad to control the mesh representation
Grid Parameters area
FIGURE 2.5.0-1 Quick
AutoGrid5™
Access Pad
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Graphical User Interface
2-5.1
Quick Access Pad
Rows Definition Subpad
The rows definition subpad is used to control the machine configuration through project management buttons and a tree. All the turbomachinery entities, rows or technological effects (seal leakage, cooling holes,...) composing a project are symbolically displayed into the tree.
FIGURE 2.5.1-1 Row
definition subpad
a) Project Management Buttons These buttons are used to select or add entities into the tree. TABLE 8. Project
Management buttons
Icon
Description Select all the entities of the tree: rows, meridional effects (bleed, seal leakage,...) and 3d effects (cooling holes,...). Select all the rows of the project. Add a meridional effect (seal leakage, bleed,...) into the tree of the project. Add a 3d effect (cooling holes,...) into the tree of the project. Add a row at the outlet of the machine. When the project has a configuration with bypass, the row is added before the nozzle. Available only if the project has a configuration with bypass. Add a row (arm) on the nozzle. Available only if the project has a configuration with bypass. Add a row near the outlet of the by-pass. Available only if the project has a configuration with bypass. Add a row near the outlet of the compressor. Add a B2B Cut into the tree of the project.
b) Configuration Tree The configuration tree is used to navigate through the project configuration, to select and modify the configuration entities.
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Graphical User Interface
Rows entities 3D Effect Meridional Effects
FIGURE 2.5.1-2 Configuration
Tree
The turbomachinery entities defining a project are:
• The rows containing the blade(s), the upstream and downstream boundaries (inlet & outlet). • The meridional effects defining seal leakage, bleed... Their domain is axisymmetric and define in the meridional plane (ZR).
• The 3D effects defining cooling holes,... Their domain is define in the XYZ space. These entities are considered as sub-entities of the rows.
• The solid mesh of end walls and/or the blade. • The basin, cooling channel with pin fins and/or ribs in the blade. • The cooling holes in the end walls and/or the blade. The selection of the entities and navigation through the tree is performed using left-click. Multiple selection is allowed. It can be performed by keeping the or button pressed during the selection process.
c) Contextual Popup Menu of Tree Items The entities of the tree can be managed with the features available through their related quick access popup menu. After selection, right-click displays these menus. For quick access, they appears above the mouse location and allows the user to add, remove or modify the properties of all selected entity.
Meridional effect menu Domain limit menu
Rows menu
3D effect menu
Blade menu
FIGURE 2.5.1-3 Contextual
AutoGrid5™
Default menu
popup menus
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Graphical User Interface
2-5.2
Quick Access Pad
Geometry Definition Subpad
The geometry definition subpad contains button and interaction area used to define or modify the geometry of the configuration entities.
FIGURE 2.5.2-1 Geometry
definition subpad
The geometry defining the channel and the blades as well as the technological effects can be specified from external CAD files and/or from ".geomTurbo" file (native geometry format). TABLE 9. Geometry
Icon
Management buttons Description Start the editing tool used to define the axisymmetric lower limit defining the blade channel from the basic meridional curves defined in the geometry file. Start the editing tool used to define the axisymmetric upper limit defining the blade channel from the basic meridional curves defined in the geometry file. Start the editing tool used to define the meridional trace of the nozzle. Available only if the project has a configuration with bypass. Open a dialog box to control the number of control points defining the channel curves used to define the inlet, outlet, rotor-stator and control lines. Open a dialog box to control the completeness of the geometry as well as validity of the end walls, before starting the mesh generation. It also repairs the curves wherever it is required. Select and load a geometry file to define or replace the geometry of the entities found in the file. Start the import geometry manager to load external CAD file and define the geometry of the configuration entities. More details in chapter 4.
The Units page allows to change the "units" of the imported geometry in order to impose a scaling factor and a corresponding tolerance that will ensure correct treatment during the grid generation when computing for example the intersection. If not necessary, it is recommended to keep the default settings (Scale Factor set to 1)
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AutoGrid5™
Quick Access Pad
2-5.3
Graphical User Interface
Mesh Control Subpad
The mesh control subpad is divided into three pages containing buttons and interaction areas used to control the mesh of the active row(s). Left click to open or close the desired page.
FIGURE 2.5.3-1 Mesh
control subpad
In this subpad, the number of points used to mesh the selected entities (rows and technological effects) is displayed and continuously updated following the modifications of the mesh generation parameters.
a) Grid Level Page The buttons and the input area of the grid level page are used to set up a default mesh.Four grid levels are available to define the number of points used to mesh the selected row(s). The button Reset Default Topology (re)set a new default mesh topology according to the geometry configuration and the chosen grid level. The button Start Row Wizard allows to access the mesh wizard mode in order to mesh the selected row in few steps by defining few parameters (more details in Chapter 4).
FIGURE 2.5.3-2 Grid
level control
The option Streamwise Weights allows to increase the number of points in the streamwise direction respectively at the inlet, on the blade and the outlet (for more details, refer to section 7-2.2).
AutoGrid5™
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Graphical User Interface
Quick Access Pad
b) Row Mesh Control Page The buttons and input areas of the row mesh control page are used to control all the grid generation parameters of the selected row(s).
FIGURE 2.5.3-3
Row mesh control
Quick access is given for the main parameters defining the flow path number and the cell width and the spacing between the layer of control (blade to blade layer on which the mesh is optimized and used to interpolate the other layers. Additional buttons give access to several dialog boxes used to control all the expert grid generation parameters. TABLE 10. Mesh
Control buttons
Icon
Description Open the flow path control dialog box. Open the dialog box dedicated to the blade to blade topology control. Open the optimization properties dialog box. Create new control lines in the meridional view.
c) Active B2B Layer Page
FIGURE 2.5.3-4
Active layer control
The input area of the active B2B layer page, is used to change the flow path on which the mesh is computed and displayed in the blade to blade view.
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AutoGrid5™
Quick Access Pad
2-5.4
Graphical User Interface
View Subpad
When the blade-to-blade view active, the View subpad contains five buttons allowing viewing operations on the blade to blade grid. The selected rows define the scope of the buttons. TABLE 11. View
Icon
buttons Description Toggle the vertices of the blade to blade blocks of the selected row(s).
Toggle the fixed points of the blade to blade blocks of the selected row(s).
Toggle the grid points of the blade to blade blocks of the selected row(s).
Toggle the edge of the blade to blade blocks of the selected row(s).
Toggle the face grid of the blade to blade blocks of the selected row(s).
When the 3D view active, the View subpad provides commands and tools that allow viewing operations on the geometry and the grid. In particular, the three first pages provide options permitting the creation and the visualization of geometry and block groups. The four pages of this subpad are described in the following sections.
2-5.4.1 Geometry Groups Page Geometry groups are powerful means of classifying geometrical entities by grouping them under the same name. This tool proves to be essential as soon as the input geometry gets a little complicated. Using groups, the user can easily perform selective visualization of parts of interest and focus on the current region being meshed. The geometry group page allows the creation, the deletion and the visualization of geometry groups, which can contain curves and/or surfaces. Different groups can contain the same curve(s) or surface(s).
Group browser
List of curves and surfaces in the group
Check button allowing selective visualization of items.
FIGURE 2.5.4-1
AutoGrid5™
Geometry Groups page
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Graphical User Interface
Quick Access Pad
All the existing geometry groups are listed by name in the browser of the page. Each group name is preceded by two buttons. Left-clicking on the first one toggles the list of curves and surfaces of the corresponding group in the Quick Access Pad. Left-clicking on the second one toggles the display of curves and surfaces of the group in the graphics area. Each item in a group is also preceded with a check button that allows to individually show or hide the item. The page contains four buttons at the bottom:
• Create Group. Before pressing this button, curves and surfaces that will be put in the new group must be selected (see the Geometry/Select menu in IGG™ User Manual). The following dialog box will be opened:
Simply enter the new group name and press the Create button to create the new group.
• Delete Group. It opens the following dialog box:
All existing geometry groups are listed in the box. Simply select a group by left-clicking on its name and press the Delete button to delete it (this will not delete the related geometrical entities).
• Show All. This button shows all the geometry in the graphics area: curves, surfaces and Cartesian points.
• Hide All. This button hides all the geometry in the graphics area: curves, surfaces and Cartesian points. Two pop-up menus are also accessible by right-clicking on a group name or on a geometry entity in the page browser:
The first menu contains three items:
• Add Selection. This adds the currently selected curves and surfaces to the group. • Remove Selection. This removes the currently selected curves and surfaces of the group. If some selected curves or surfaces are not in the group, the removal of these entities will have no effect on the group.
• Delete. This deletes the geometry group.
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Graphical User Interface
The second menu allows to remove of the group the geometry entity from which the menu is opened.
2-5.4.2 Block Groups Page This page allows the creation, deletion and the visualization of block groups. Different groups can contain the same block(s).
Group browser
List of blocks in the group
Check button allowing selective visualization of items.
FIGURE 2.5.4-2 Block
Groups page
All the existing block groups are listed by name in the browser of the page. Each group name is preceded by two buttons. Left-clicking on the first one toggles the list of blocks of the corresponding group in the Quick Access Pad. Left-clicking on the second one toggles the display of blocks of the group in the graphics area. Each item in a group is also preceded with a check button that allows to individually show or hide the item. The page contains four buttons at the bottom:
• Create Group. The following dialog box will open:
Simply enter the new group name and press the Create button to select the group blocks. The following prompt will appear: <1> Select a Block, <2> Add to Group, <3> Quit, : Block Indices Left-click on a block to select it. The block will be highlighted. Then, middle-click to add the block to the group. This block will remain highlighted until leaving this tool. Add in the same manner as many blocks as desired. Blocks can also be added to the group by entering their number in the keyboard input area. In this case, the blocks are directly added to the group without being highlighted and without any validation. The numbers must be separated by spaces. A range of blocks can also be added by entering two numbers separated by a ’-’. For example, enter ’1 5 10-15 3’ to add the blocks 1, 3, 5 and the range 10->15. The numbers do not have to be ordered and the same number can be entered more than one time. If a syntax error is made, a warning message will appear. Press or the right mouse button to complete the group creation.
• Delete Group. It opens the following dialog box:
AutoGrid5™
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Graphical User Interface
Quick Access Pad
All existing block groups are listed in the box. Simply select a group by left-clicking on its name and press the Delete button to delete it (this will not delete the related blocks).
• Show All. This button shows all the blocks in the graphics area. • Hide All. This button hides all the blocks in the graphics area. Two pop-up menus are also accessible by right-clicking on a group name or on a block in the page browser:
The first menu contains three items:
• Add Selection. This adds the active block to the group. • Remove Selection. This removes the active block of the group. If it is not in the group, this operation will have no effect on the group.
• Delete. This deletes the block group. The second menu allows to remove of the group the block from which the menu is opened.
2-5.4.3 Grid Configuration Page When creating a mesh with AutoGrid5™, the multiblock data structure can becomes very complex. A new database, named Grid Configuration, is created by AutoGrid5™ at the end of the mesh generation, saved together with the project into a file ".config". When loading the mesh in IGG™, AutoGrid5™ or in FINE™ GUI, the grid configuration is also loaded. The grid configuration describes the mesh structure of the project as a set of fluid and solid domains interconnected together through domain interfaces. Each domain contains a set of subdomains and a set of interfaces. Each domain interface contains a type of boundary condition, a type of free boundary condition and the possible connected domain reference. The domain encapsulates the list of structured blocks defining the domain. The domain interface encapsulated the list of structured patches defining the interface. This new data structure is very useful. It can be used to reduce the time needed to analyse the mesh of a project, to set up the boundary conditions into FINE™ GUI and to easily visualize the mesh. AutoGrid5™ computes automatically the grid configuration of the meshed turbomachine after each 3D generation as well as after loading or saving a project. This configuration is composed by a tree of domains similar to the configuration tree used to set the template configuration. The Main
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AutoGrid5™
Quick Access Pad
Graphical User Interface
Project of an AutoGrid5™ configuration contains a single subdomain named "AG5 " where project name is the name of the template. The AutoGrid5™ domain contains the list of subdomain related to each row and each technological effect 3D.
When navigating through the configuration, the boundary edges of the selected domain and the grid of the selected interface are automatically displayed and updated in the XYZ view. This behaviour can be switched off using the buttons Highlight Domain and Highlight Boundaries on the bottom of the Grid Configuration page. Selecting one or several item of the configuration and using right-click gives access to all the management options through contextual menus dedicated to each type of configuration item.
a) Main Project Management Right-Click
a.1) Duplicate Main Project The menu option Duplicate is used to create an new instance of the Main Project into the configuration. This new instance is called a SubProject and is a perfect copy of the main project configuration.
AutoGrid5™
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Graphical User Interface
Quick Access Pad
a.2) Merge Main Project The option Merge can be used to merge together subprojects with the main project. A new instance of the Main Project is created and if mesh and template files exist on disk for the selected subproject, new mesh and template files are created for the new merged subproject resulting of the concatenation of the main project mesh and template files with the subproject mesh and template files.
b) SubProject Management Subprojects are useful when part of the main configuration must be analysed separately. In addition AutoGrid5™ allows also to redefine geometry in a subproject through template manipulation and remeshing partially the machine. Each subproject can have its own mesh and template inside which the user can modify locally some part of the geometry (i.e. a blade definition). Once the computation is fruitful on the subproject a merge process allow the user to concatenate the main project with the selected subproject to analyse the complete configuration with the new geometry defined in the subproject.
Right-Click
b.1) Rename SubProject This option can be used to rename the subproject. A entry prompts the user to enter a new name. Blank and special characters are allowed excepted tabulation. The system warns the user if the name is already used.
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Graphical User Interface
When a new subproject name is accepted, the subproject files and directory are also renamed. Therefore it is strongly recommended to save also the main project (File/Save Project menu) after renaming process to keep consistency between the main project configuration stored on disk and the name of the subproject files.
b.2) Duplicate SubProject The menu option Duplicate is used to create an new instance of the SubProject into the configuration.
b.3) Save SubProject The menu item Save is used to save the mesh and the template of the selected subproject. By default, when a subproject is created from the main project, the mesh and the template files are not duplicated. Once the subproject edition done, the option Save creates a new directory _. The partial mesh and template related to the subproject are automatically created and stored in this directory. All the structured patches boundary condition type of the mesh belonging to a domain interface connected to a subdomain removed in the subproject are switched to the free boundary condition define in the interface properties. In the below example, the patch type of the RS Connection With row 1 are switched to Inlet when saving the subproject mesh.
When saving the subproject, AutoGrid5™ asks if the main project mesh and template must remain the active one. If not, the created subproject file or template are automatically loaded replacing the main project.
b.4) Load SubProject The menu Load can be used to load the mesh (and the template) of a subproject if the file exists on disk. If not a warning prompts the user to first save the subproject.
AutoGrid5™
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Graphical User Interface
Quick Access Pad
b.5) Merge SubProject The menu Merge can be used to merge together subprojects and/or with the main project. The figure illustrates the process to merge together the subproject 1 & subproject 2 into a subproject 3.
This operation can takes some time because of the following steps needed to keep consistency:
• An new subproject is created in the configuration as the result of the merging process between the selected subproject,
• The main project is saved (needed to keep consistency), • The main project is duplicated and saved into the new subproject directory, • The mesh and template of the selected subproject are loaded to replace partially the data into the duplicated main project,
• The domains which does not appear in the new subproject are removed from the mesh and the template,
• The final subproject is saved on disk. At the end of the merging process the subproject 3 remains loaded. To retrieve the original interface status, the user must load again the main project (File/ Open Project).
b.6) Delete SubProject The menu Delete can be used to delete the mesh (and the template) of a subproject if the file exists on disk.
c) Domain Management Each domain edges are automatically highlighted in red in the XYZ view when selected (click-left) in the configuration.
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Graphical User Interface
Each row domain contains a list of subdomains which depends of the option chosen by the user during the turbomachinery configuration setup. In the example, each row contains only a subdomain corresponding to the Main Blade definition. For each domain, a folder named Domain Boundaries contains the interface of the domain. Right-clicking on a domain gives access to the domain menu. Right-Click
Each subdomain contains a list of IGG™ blocks. When dealing with butterfly topology created in IGG™ or as 3D technological effect in AutoGrid5™, the button Update assumes that all the blocks are now included in the grid configuration except the parent blocks. This is a suitable behaviour for the usage of the grid configuration in the FINE™ GUI.
c.1) Domain Properties The menu Properties opens the dialog box use to control the type and the rotation speed of the domain.
Each modification will affect all the blocks linked to the domain. The type Fluid-Solid means that the domain contains subdomains of different type. In the example, the Main Blade subdomain contains the core flow domain around the blade (fluid), the shroud gap domain (Fluid) and the solid body of the blade (Solid). Therefore the type of the domain Main Blade is set to the hybrid type Fluid-Solid.
c.2) Rename Domain The menu Rename can be used to rename a domain.
c.3) Group Domain The menu Group can be used to group the domain together. The resulting domain contains a list of subdomains equal to the selected list. This menu is available only in the grid configuration within IGG™.
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c.4) Delete Domain The menu Delete can be used to remove the selected domain from the related main project and/or from the related subprojects.
d) Domain Interface Management Each domain of the main project or a subproject contains domain interfaces defining the physical boundaries of the configuration and the connections between the domains. These interfaces are stored in the Domain Boundaries folder of the domain. If the button Highlight Boundaries is checked, the selected domain interfaces are automatically displayed using grid and color shading representations as presented in the below figure.
In addition, the main project and the subprojects include also a Domain Boundaries folder containing the full list of the project domain interfaces. For more visibility, the list has been divided into several subfolder according to the boundary condition type of each interface: inlet, outlet, solid, external, rotor-stator, connection(Fluid->Fluid), connection(Solid->Solid), connection(Fluid>Solid), connection(Solid->Fluid).
Each subfolder contains a list of interfaces and/or subfolders. The interfaces are given by their full composite name. The composite name is composed by the name of the tree entity and all its parents separated by a character "/". The subfolders (i.e. row 1 Connection(Fluid->Fluid)) contain a list of interfaces. These subfolders represent interfaces groups and are defined for quick access. These
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Graphical User Interface
groups are defined automatically by AutoGrid5™ or manually using the features dedicated to the domain boundary management. These features are available through the right-click menu of the domain boundaries.
d.1) Domain Boundary Properties The menu Properties opens a dialog box dedicated to the management of the interfaces properties.
In the dialog box, the rotation speed, the name, the type of the boundary in the main project (Boundary Condition Type) and in the subproject (Free Boundary Condition Type) are available. In a subproject, some domains can be removed by the user. When saving the grid of a subproject, all the boundary condition type of the domain boundaries connected to the removed domains are set to the free boundary condition type. In addition, when the interface selected is a rotor-stator, the side (upstream or downstream) of the interface can be setup (Rotor/Stator Side).
d.2) Rename Domain Boundary The menu Rename can be used to rename a domain boundary.
d.3) Group Domain Boundaries The menu Group can be used to group together domain boundaries of the same type within IGG™. As the groups are stored in the main project or the subproject boundaries, the menu item group appears only when at least two boundaries of the same type of a subproject or the main project are selected. By default the name of the group is composed by the "type name" + "group id" (i.e. Solid 1). A new subfolder is automatically displayed in the tree and contains all the selected boundaries.
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Quick Access Pad
d.4) Ungroup Domain Boundaries The menu Ungroup is used to ungroup existing group or domain boundaries within IGG™. Ungroup a group of domain boundaries results in removing the initial group.
Ungroup an existing domain boundary split it into a list of new domain boundaries. The number of new boundaries is equal to the number of grid patches defined in the selected domain boundaries. The name of the new domain boundaries is equal to B F P .
d.5) Connect Domain Boundaries Three types of interfaces between domains of a grid configuration are available:
• Interface with no connection with other domain (i.e: hub,shroud,…),
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Quick Access Pad
Graphical User Interface
• Interface connected with another domain: connection (Connect), full non matching connection (Connect As FNMB) and rotor/stator connection (Connect As Rotor/Stator),
• Internal domain full non matching connections. If the mesh (including patch connection and full non matching definition) is completed, the connected boundaries between domains are automatically defined by AutoGrid5™ or by IGG™ when using the button Update of the grid configuration page.
In some circumstances, the complete mesh of a project results of a concatenation of submeshes created in separate session of IGG™ and/or AutoGrid5™. During this mesh concatenation within IGG™, the grid configuration is also concatenate. The menu Connect, Connect As FNMB and Connect As Rotor/Stator are used to establish the connection between the different concatenated configuration. The below example illustrates the concatenation between two meshes created in separate IGG™ session connected through one domain boundary: 1.
Two meshes are created separately and stored into the mesh files "mesh1-fluid.igg" and "mesh2fluid.igg". Both meshes have an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of mesh2 is equal to the outlet of mesh 1. Both meshes have similar grid configuration.
mesh1-fluid.igg
2.
mesh2-fluid.igg
A new IGG™ project is initialized and is composed by both meshes imported into this new project.
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The Outlet 1 and Inlet 2 are selected than connected together using the menu Connect.
3.
The same above steps can be repeated to connect with a full non matching connection. In this case, a new full non matching connection is created automatically using the mesh patches of the selected boundaries. Finally, a rotor/stator connection between two imported domains can also be established in such way.
d.6) Interface Viewer The menu Interface Viewer opens a dialog box dedicated to the domain interface visualization. It allows to select the display of the grid and/or a solid representation of the selected interfaces.
d.7) Export Surfaces The menu Export Surfaces is used to export a IGG™ data file format of the surfaces created as new wireframe of each patches defining the interface. The file name is defined automatically using as prefix the name of the configuration file (".config" file) and the name the interface.
2-5.4.4 Grid Page This page provides visualization commands on the grid. It consists of two rows: a row of buttons and a row of icons.
The first row of buttons is used to determine the viewing scope, that is the grid scope on which the viewing commands provided by the icons of the second row will apply. There are five modes determining the scope, each one being represented by a button: Segment, Edge, Face, Block, Grid (all blocks). Only one mode is active at a time and the current mode is highlighted. Simply left-click on a button to select the desired mode.
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AutoGrid5™
Control Area
• • • • •
Graphical User Interface
In Segment mode, a viewing operation applies to the active segment only. In Edge mode, a viewing operation applies to the active edge only. In Face mode, a viewing operation applies to the active face only. In Block mode, a viewing operation applies to the active block only.
In Grid mode, a viewing operation applies to all the blocks of the grid. The icons of the second row and their related commands are listed in the following table:
TABLE 12. View
Icon
buttons Description Toggles vertices
Toggles fixed points
Toggles segment grid points
Toggles edges
Toggles face grid
Toggles shading
2-6
When the Grid configuration page is opened, the viewing button related to the grid topology acts on the selected configuration item. The user is now able to draw the grid edges row by row.
Control Area
The control area is composed of seven major areas:
• • • • • • •
Message area Keyboard input area Mouse coordinates Information area Grid parameters area Generation Status area Viewing buttons
Each one is described in the following sections.
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2-6.1
Control Area
Message Area
This area has several display functions:
— Display of warning messages notifying the user — Display of request messages asking the user for inputs from Keyboard input area or Graphics area
— Display of general information messages (current function options,...)
2-6.2
Keyboard Input Area
To mesh 3D technological effects, AutoGrid5™ gives access to the structured multiblock grid generation module IGG™. Some of the options in IGG™ require numerical inputs from the user. For example, rotating a curve around a given line requires to specify the direction of the line, its origin and the rotation angle. The keyboard input area is provided to allow such inputs. When an option requires numerical inputs, a message is indicated in the Message area. Without leaving the graphics area, the user can then type the required data. The keystrokes are automatically echoed in the keyboard input area and the user has the possibility to modify the inputs. The input is acknowledged after pressing . Entering scalar values: a scalar value is specified by a floating number followed by . Valid values are 5 1.32323 -0.1234 1.4E-5. Entering vectors: a vector is specified by typing its three components separated by a blank and followed by . The Keyboard input area can also be used to select the active block, face, edge or segment. Simply enter the related indices separated by blanks and press to make the corresponding entity active. This obviously causes the update of the Grid parameters area.
2-6.3
Mouse Coordinates
This area displays the mouse cursor coordinates in the Graphics area. If the cursor is out of it, it indicates the last cursor position in it.
2-6.4
Information Area
This area gives general informations (about edges, curves,...). For example, when moving a vertex and attracting it to a curve, the name of that curve is displayed in this area.
2-6.5
Grid Parameters Area Active block, face, edge and segment indices Number of blocks, faces, edges and segments for the active topology
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Control Area
Graphical User Interface
This area shows very useful informations about the grid:
• Active Block, Face, Edge and Segment indices • Number of grid blocks, active block faces, active face edges, active edge segments • Block: — Number of active block points — Number of grid points — Name of the block — Number of points in each block direction • Face: constant direction and the corresponding index • Edge: constant direction according to the active face and the corresponding index • Segment: number of points on the segment • The maximum multigrid level available in the I, J and K direction If the name of the active block is "invalid", it means that any block has been created yet or all the blocks have been deleted.
2-6.6
Generation Status Area
During grid generation process, the status of each steps is displayed in this area. In addition two pop-up windows are also displayed to control the iteration process of the optimization steps and the progress status of all the other generation steps. These two windows are optional and can be deactivated by toggle the button Show this next time.
FIGURE 2.6.6-1 Progress
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status & Optimization status windows
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2-6.7
Control Area
Viewing Buttons
The Viewing buttons are used to perform viewing manipulations on the active view, such as scrolling, zooming and rotating. The manipulations use the left, middle and right buttons of the mouse in different ways. The sub-sections below describe the function associated with each mouse button for each viewing button.
For systems that only accept a mouse with two buttons, the middle mouse button can be emulated for viewing options by holding the key with the left mouse button. During viewing operations, AutoGrid™ automatically removes from the active view all ‘heavy’ graphics representations such as solid model or color shading. This is done to keep a reasonable speed during rotation, translation or zoom operations. The complete picture is restored after a viewing operation is finished. A ‘full visibility’ can be explicitly requested during viewing operations by calling the Autogrid Preferences dialog box and setting the visibility flag to Full in the Graphics page. Viewing manipulations can be done while another action is already undertaken (for example, a vertex displacement). That action is temporarily stopped until the viewing operation is finished; then, the action can be performed just like before the viewing. This is useful when operations have to be executed in very distant areas of the model.
2-6.7.1 X, Y & Z Projection Buttons These buttons allow to view the graphics objects on X, Y or Z projection plane.
• Left : press this mouse button to project the view on an X, Y or Z constant plane. If the same button is pressed more than one time, the horizontal axis sense changes at each press.
2-6.7.2 Coordinate Axis The coordinate axis button acts as a toggle to display different types of coordinate axis on the active view using the following mouse buttons:
• Left : press to turn on/off the display of symbolic coordinate axis at the lower right corner of the view.
• Middle : press to turn on/off the display of scaled coordinate axis for the active view. The axis surrounds all objects in the view and may not be visible when the view is zoomed in.
•
Right : press to turn on/off the display of IJK axis at the origin of the active block (in Block Viewing Scope) or of all the blocks (in Grid Viewing Scope). (For more information about the viewing scope, see the View/Grid page of the Quick Access Pad).
2-6.7.3 Scrolling This button is used to translate the contents of active view within the plane of graphics window in the direction specified by the user. Following functions can be performed with the mouse buttons:
• Left: press and drag the left mouse button to indicate the translation direction. The translation is proportional to the mouse displacement. Release the button when finished. The translation magnitude is automatically calculated by measuring the distance between the initial clicked point and the current position of the cursor.
• Middle : press and drag the middle mouse button to indicate the translation direction. The translation is continuous in the indicated direction. Release the button when finished. The translation speed is automatically calculated by measuring the distance between the initial clicked point and the current position of the cursor.
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2-6.7.4 3D Viewing Button This button allows to perform viewing operations directly in the graphics area. Allowed operations are 3D rotation, scrolling and zooming. After having selected the option, move the mouse to the active view, then:
• • • •
Press and drag the left mouse button to perform a 3D rotation Press and drag the middle mouse button to perform a translation Press and drag the middle mouse button, while holding the key, to perform a zoom To select the centre of rotation, hold the key and press the left mouse button on a geometry curve, a vertex or a surface (even if this one is visualized with a wireframe model). The centre of rotation is always located in the center of the screen. So, when changing it, the model is moved according to its new value.
This 3D viewing tool is also accessible with the key.
2-6.7.5 Rotate Around X, Y or Z axis The rotation buttons are used to rotate graphical objects on the active view around the X, Y or Z axis. The rotations are always performed around the centre of the active view. Following functions can be performed with the mouse buttons:
• Left : press and drag the left mouse button to the left or to the right. A clockwise or counterclockwise rotation will be performed, proportional to the mouse displacement. Release the button when finished.
• Middle : press and drag the middle mouse button to the left or to the right. A continuous rotation will be performed, clockwise or counterclockwise. Release the button when finished.
2-6.7.6 Zoom In/Out This button is used for zooming operations on the active view. Zooming is always performed around the centre of the view. Following functions can be performed with the mouse buttons:
• Left : press and drag the left mouse button to the left or to the right. A zoom in - zoom out will be performed, proportional to the mouse displacement. Release the button when finished.
• Middle : press and drag the middle mouse button to the left or to the right. A continuous zoom in - zoom out will be performed. Release the button when finished.
2-6.7.7 Region Zoom This button allows to specify a rectangular area of the active view that will be fitted to the view dimensions. After having selected the button,
• Move the mouse to the active view • Press and drag the left mouse button to select the rectangular region • Release the button to perform the zoom operation These operations can be repeated several times to perform more zooming.
• Press or the right mouse button to quit the option.
AutoGrid5™
This tool is also accessible with the key.
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Graphics Area & Views
2-6.7.8 Fit Button The fit button is used to fit the content of the view to the view limits without changing the current orientation of the camera (which can be interpreted as the user’s eyes).
2-6.7.9 Original Button The original button is used to fit the content of the view and to give a default orientation to the camera.
2-6.7.10 Cutting Plane This option displays a movable plane that cuts the geometry and the blocks of the mesh. The plane is symbolically represented by four boundaries and its normal, and is by default semi-transparent. After having selected the button,
• • • • •
Press and drag the left mouse button to rotate the plane Press and drag the middle mouse button to translate the plane Press , or to align the plane normal along the X, Y or Z axis Press to revert the plane normal Press to toggle the transparency of the plane (to make it semi-transparent or fully transparent). It is highly advised to deactivate the plane transparency when using X11 driver to increase the execution speed.
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Graphics Area & Views
The graphics area is the region of the screen dedicated to the display of all graphical objects created by the system. These graphical objects may be distributed in different windows called ’views’ in the AutoGrid5™ terminology.
FIGURE 2.7.0-1 Graphics
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area
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Graphics Area & Views
Graphical User Interface
Four views are displayed simultaneously in the graphics area:
• • • •
The symbolic view. The meridional view. The blade to blade view. The 3D View
Although four views can be visible at a time, only one can be active. This view is identified by a red border and is called the ’active view’. The active view can be changed with the left mouse button. Right-click into a view gives access to contextual menu which always contains the two items dedicated to the view management
View management items Selecting the Full View item display the active view on the entire graphics area. To return to the multiview environment, right click on the item MultiView. Full View can also be accessed by double left-clicking in the view. MultiView mode can be retrieved by pressing .
2-7.1
Symbolic View
The symbolic view displays a theoretical scheme of the turbomachinery row(s). Each entities (rows, blades, shroud & hub gaps) can be select using left click.
FIGURE 2.7.1-1
2-7.2
Symbolic view
Meridional View
The meridional view displays the entities of the machine projected in (z,r) coordinates. This view is mainly used to create and control the flow paths in each row.
FIGURE 2.7.2-1 Meridional
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view
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Graphical User Interface
2-7.3
Graphics Area & Views
Blade to Blade View
The blade to blade view displays one blade to blade layer of the mesh in (dm/r,theta) coordinates. The m coordinates is the curvilinear arc length along the active layer (flow path). The angles (cell skewness) and the distances (expansion ratio and boundary cell width) are kept by the conformal mapping (x,y,z->dm/r,theta). The blade to blade view is mainly used to control blade to blade generation of the mesh.
FIGURE 2.7.3-1
2-7.4
Blade to blade view
3D View
The 3D view is used to display the solid body of the geometry and the 3D generated mesh, to check the mesh quality.
FIGURE 2.7.4-1 3D
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view of solid body
AutoGrid5™
File Chooser
2-7.5
Graphical User Interface
View & User Interaction
The graphical object displayed in the symbolic, meridional and blade to blade view are related to entities of the configuration tree (row, blade, domain limit, shroud & hub gap). Object under the mouse are automatically highlighted in yellow indicating that their selection can be operated by left-click. Right-click displays contextual menus related to the underlying object. To unselect all objects, left-click on a empty location.
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File Chooser
For file management (opening and saving of files) AutoGrid5™ uses the standard file chooser window. The layout of the file chooser depends on the used operating system but a typical layout is shown in Figure 2.8.0-1. The directories and files list allows to browsing through the available directory structure to the project directory. In the case a file needs to be opened an existing file should be selected in the list of available files. In the case a new file needs to be created the user can type a new file name with the appropriate extension. In the Files of type bar the default file type is set by default to list only the files of the required type.
FIGURE 2.8.0-1 Typical
AutoGrid5™
layout of a file chooser
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Graphical User Interface
File Chooser
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AutoGrid5™
CHAPTER 3:
3-1
Meshing Fundamentals
Overview
AutoGrid5™ has been developed to ensure a quick management of the grid generation process of turbomachinery configurations. The software is able to take into account the most used components of a turbomachinery. These components are divided into five types:
• • • • •
the blade rows the meridional technological effects (seal leakage, bleed,...) the 3d technological effects (volute, cooling holes,...) the solid mesh the cooling holes, cooling channel and basin
The software provides a highly interactive user interface and a mesh wizard (Chapter 4) allowing an easy setup of the mesh generation process for complex geometries. Based on a template approach, it ensures reusability of the interactive work on similar geometries through the full batch mode capability. The application field of AutoGrid5™ covers all the turbomachinery types:
• • • • • • • •
AutoGrid5™
axial and centrifugal machine multistage machine turbine, compressor multi-splitters tandem rows return channel inducer airplane engine compressor stages with fan and by-pass
3-1
Meshing Fundamentals
3-2
Mesh Domain Definition
Mesh Domain Definition
A turbomachinery configuration domain is defined by the space located between the hub, the shroud and the blades of the machine. Additional domains can be added to the configuration to mesh technological effects (bleed, seal leakage, cooling holes)
Technological Effect Shroud definition
Blade channel Inlet
Outlet
Hub definition Blade definition
z
y x
FIGURE 3.2.0-1 Turbomachinery
3-2.1
domain
Hub & Shroud Definition
The hub & shroud are defined by their meridional trace (ZR coordinates). They define the spanwise boundaries of the domain. The 3D blade to blade domain is meshed on surface of revolution located
3-2
AutoGrid5™
Mesh Domain Definition
Meshing Fundamentals
between the hub and the shroud definition. The geometry of the hub and the shroud are defined using curves in (x,y,z), (r,theta,z) or (r,z).
3-2.2
Blade Definition
The blades are defined (x,y,z coordinates) by several surfaces and two curves defining their leading and trailing edge locations. During the mesh generation the blades surfaces are intersected by surfaces of revolutions defined from the hub to the shroud.
3-2.3
Inlet & Outlet Limits
The inlet and outlet limits of the domain are by default automatically defined by AutoGrid5™ using two straight lines joining the limits of the hub and shroud definitions. The shape and the location of the inlet and outlet boundaries can be interactively modified in the meridional view. In case of multistage configuration (multiple rows), the location of the rotor/stator mixing plane is also automatically defined by AutoGrid5™. Their default location are set at the average streamwise location between the upstream trailing edge and the downstream leading edge. Furthermore, the shape and the location of the rotor/stator can be interactively modified in the meridional view.
3-2.4
Technological Effects
The technological effects are divided in two types: the meridional and the 3d effects. They define additional domains stuck to the main channel domain.
3-2.4.1 Meridional Technological Effects The seal leakages, the cavities and the bleed belong to the meridional effect types. The meridional effect is axisymmetric and its geometry is defined by meridional curves (z,r coordinates). The domain of a meridional effect must always be connected to one or more blade row(s). The mesh of these configuration entities are generated in 3 steps:
• manual blocking in the meridional space • automatic settings of the number of grid points and the clustering in the meridional space • 3D mesh generation obtained by the combination of the meridional blocking and the mesh at the connection(s) with the blade row(s). More details are presented in Chapter 9 and in dedicated tutorial.
3-2.4.2 3D Technological Effects The draft tube, pipe diffuser, volute belong to the 3D technological effects. These effects are defined by 3D surfaces or 3D curves (x,y,z coordinates). Their meshes are created manually using the structured multiblock grid generation system IGG™. The steps used to create the mesh (more details in IGG™ user manual and in dedicated tutorial) are automatically saved and can be replayed on similar geometry.
3-2.5
Cooling & Conjugate Heat Transfer
AutoGrid5™ allows the mesh generation of the blade and the end wall solid bodies (Conjugate Heat Transfer module). Furthermore, the cooling module allows the mesh generation of basin, basin holes, blade holes, end wall holes, cooling channel with or without pin fins and ribs. More details are presented in Chapter 10.
AutoGrid5™
3-3
Meshing Fundamentals
3-3
Geometry Definition
Geometry Definition
The geometry curves and surfaces defining the turbomachinery domain can be entered using two different ways:
The ".geomTurbo" file format is structured in three main blocks: the header, the channel and the row(s) definitions. Following is a example of a ".geomTurbo" file format structure for a turbomachinery with three blade rows respectively named impeller, diffuser and return channel. GEOMETRY TURBO VERSION 5.3 bypass no cascade no NI_BEGIN CHANNEL ... NI_END CHANNEL NI_BEGIN nirow NAME impeller ... NI_END nirow NI_BEGIN nirow NAME diffuser ... NI_END nirow NI_BEGIN nirow NAME return channel ... NI_END nirow
header
channel definition
row(s) definition
NI_END GEOMTURBO
NI_BEGIN GEOMETRY
all geometry defined using import CAD window
NI_END GEOMETRY
The bypass parameter must be set to yes in case of a project configuration with bypass (airplane engine,...) The cascade parameter must be set to yes in case of a cascade configuration.
3-3.1.1 Channel Format The channel format contains the definition of the turbomachinery meridional contour (hub, shroud, seal leakage, bleed,...). It is defined by two types of curves:
• The basic curves defined by a set of points. • The channel curves defined as a composite of basic curves. NI_BEGIN CHANNEL NI_BEGIN basic_curve
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basic curves definition
AutoGrid5™
Geometry Definition
Meshing Fundamentals
NAME curve_1 ... NI_END basic_curve NI_BEGIN basic_curve NAME curve_2 ... NI_END basic_curve NI_BEGIN channel_curve hub NAME hub ... NI_END channel_curve hub NI_BEGIN channel_curve shroud NAME shroud ... NI_END channel_curve shroud NI_END CHANNEL
channel curves definition
The number of basic curves is unlimited. The ".geomTurbo" file must contain two channel curves named respectively hub and shroud.
a) Basic Curves The basic curve format is used to defined a curve and project it in the meridional space (z,r). The curve is defined by a name, an interpolation method (c-spline or polyline), the coordinate type, the number of control points and the points coordinates:
interpolation type - coordinate type number of control points points coordinates
The coordinate types are identified by the following keyword: ZR, XYZ, RTHZ, ZRTH, THRZ, RZTH,... where X,Y and Z are the 3 Cartesian coordinates and R,TH and Z are the 3 cylindrical coordinates.
AutoGrid5™
By default a c-spline interpolation between the control points is applied. The keyword polyline can be added beside the coordinate type (ZR) to switch off the c-spline interpolation. In this case, the basic curve is defined by straight lines joining the control points. The DISCRETISATION number is the number of points defined between each control points of the c-spline. The DATA_REDUCTION when set to 1 allows to perform a data reduction of the basic curve based on DATA_REDUCTION_ANGLE and DATA_REDUCTION_DISTANCE.
3-5
Meshing Fundamentals
Geometry Definition
b) Channel Curves The channel curves are used to define the hub, the shroud and possibly the nozzle in case of bypass configuration. A channel curve is a composite of defined basic curves. It is defined by a name and vertices. Each vertex belong to a basic curves and is defined by its parametric location (normalized arc length).
The nozzle curve is defined starting from the lower radius side from the outlet to the "inlet" (reverse hub direction) and then on the upper radius side from the "inlet" to the outlet (shroud direction).
FIGURE 3.3.1-1
Nozzle curve orientation
3-3.1.2 Row(s) Definition Format. The row format contains the geometry definition of a complete row. It is defined by a row name, a row type, a periodicity and the definition of the main blade and possibly the splitter(s): NI_BEGIN nirow NAME impeller TYPE normal PERIODICITY 36 NI_BEGIN 3d effect NAME 3d techno effect 1 NI_END 3d effect
row name row type row periodicity 3d technological effect definition
NI_BEGIN NINonAxiSurfaces tip_gap NAMEnon axisymmetric tip gap REPETITION0 NI_END NINonAxiSurfaces tip_gap NI_BEGIN NIBlade NAME main Blade ... NI_END NIBlade NI_BEGIN NIBlade NAME splitter 1 ... NI_END NIBlade ... NI_END nirow
tip gap non axisymmetric definition
main blade definition
splitter definition
a) Row Type The row type is used to specify the row location in case of bypass configuration. Four types, identified by the keyword NORMAL, ON_NOZZLE, IN_BYPASS and DOWN_BYPASS, are respectively used to locate the row before the nozzle (inlet fan), on the nozzle (arm), in the bypass and in the compressor.
b) Row Periodicity The periodicity defines the number of main blades in the row.
c) Blade Definition The blade(s) and possibly the splitter(s) are defined by a name and two surfaces defining the pressure and the suction side. The surfaces are identified by the keywords pressure and suction: NI_BEGIN NIBlade NAME main Blade blade name NI_BEGIN nibladegeometry TYPE GEOMTURBO GEOMETRY_MODIFIED0 GEOMETRY TURBO VERSION 5 blade_expansion_factor_hub0.01 blade_expansion_factor_shroud0.01 intersection_npts 10 intersection_control 1 data_reduction 0 data_reduction_spacing_tolerance 1e-006 data_reduction_angle_tolerance 90 control_points_distribution 0 9 77 9 50 0.00622408226922942 0.119480980447523 units 1 blade units number_of_blades 36 number of blades
The units allows to change the "units" of the imported geometry in order to impose a scaling factor and a corresponding tolerance that will ensure correct treatment during the grid generation when computing for example the intersection. If not necessary, it is recommended to keep the default settings (Scale Factor set to 1). The number_of_blades is the number of blades in the row and this must be an integer. This parameter comes from the old AutoGrid4™ geomTurbo format. The PERIODICITY (AutoGrid5™ geomTurbo format) specifies also the number of blades and this can be different from an integer especially for cascade configuration (section 5-6). For such configuration, only the PERIODICITY is used and correspond to the pitch distance between two consecutive blades. The pressure side and the suction side are defined by a set of cross sections of the blade at several spanwise location. Each section is defined by a set of points: suction SECTIONAL 13 # section 1 XYZ 100 0.17669 -0.0208609 0.000351471 0.176691 -0.0208788 0.000370063 ... # section 2 XYZ 100 0.17669 -0.0208609 0.000351471 0.176691 -0.0208788 0.000370063 ...
suction keyword number of sections definition of section 1 - close to hub coordinate type number of control points points coordinates definition of section 2 coordinate type number of control points points coordinates
The coordinate types of each sections are identified by the following keyword: ZR, XYZ, RTHZ, ZRTH, THRZ, RZTH,... where X,Y and Z are the 3 Cartesian coordinates and R,TH and Z are the 3 cylindrical coordinates.
In AutoGrid5™ the rows and blades can be named by the user. These names are appearing in the ".geomTurbo" file and are used in the ".trb" file. In case the user wants to use a template for different ".geomTurbo" files, the row and blade names should be the same.
Besides format description, as discussed in the above part, the following options can be considered in order to close the blade geometry using a Cspline curve technique. The options are however restricted to situations when either the leading or trailing edge are left undefined. To do so, the following can be added in the sections pressure or suction.
• [ blend_inlet [nb_pt expan_ratio]]: providing the leading edge of the blade is not defined, the user can add the key word blend_inlet to define automatically a rounded leading edge using a cspline curve that connects the pressure and suction sides of the blade. The parameters nb_pt and expan_ratio respectively represent the number of points selected to define the blend curve and the relative expansion size of the curve edge relative to the distance between the suction and pressure sides of the leading edge. Example: suction blend_inlet 10 1.2
• [blend_outlet [nb_pt expan_ratio]]: providing the trailing edge of the blade is not defined, the user can add the key word blend_outlet to define automatically a rounded trailing edge using a c-spline curve that connects the pressure and suction sides of the blade. The parameters nb_pt and expan_ratio respectively represent the number of points selected to define the blend curve and the relative expansion size of the curve edge relative to the distance between the suction and pressure sides of the trailing edge. Example: suction blend_outlet 12 1.1
• [blend_inlet_outlet [nb_pt expan_ratio] [nb_pt expan_ratio]]: providing both the leading and trailing edge of the blade are not defined, blend_inlet and blend_outlet optional key words can be concatenated into a single blend_inlet_outet key word. blend_inlet_outlet enables to define
3-8
AutoGrid5™
Geometry Definition
Meshing Fundamentals
automatically the edges using a c-spline curve that connects the pressure and suction sides of the blade. See blend_inlet and blend_outlet for the definition of parameters nb_pt and expan_ratio. Example: suction blend_inlet_outlet 10 1.2 12 1.1 When the surfaces defining the blade are physically ruled and that the blade is defined through a set of sections within the ".geomTurbo" file, user must take care to select the same number of points to define each section. In addition, when using the keyword uniform_parametrization, the ith point of the first section will be connected to ith point of the second section. Example: Section_1 XYZ uniform_parametrization 36 0.5 0.3 0.1 ... Section_2 XYZ uniform_parametrization 36 0.55 0.35 0.11 ...
3-3.2
External CAD Format
AutoGrid5™ is able to import the geometry defining the domain from various external CAD format (IGES, CATIA v5, Parasolid™). The files containing the surfaces and the curves defining the blades and the meridional contour of the turbomachinery are loaded and displayed. Easy selection of the geometrical entities can be operated interactively and linked to the project configuration through contextual menu (see Chapter 5 for more details). The blade channel must be defined by a set of curves (i.e. axisymmetric boundary of a surface of revolution). The blade(s) of each row are defined by a set of surfaces and two curves defining the leading and the trailing edges. As long as these curves are not defined, AutoGrid5™ is not able to create the inlet, outlet and mixing plane boundary of the domain.
AutoGrid5™
Parasolid™ and CATIA v5 import is not available on specific platforms. Please refer to the installation note for more details.
3-9
Meshing Fundamentals
3-4
Mesh Generation Steps
Mesh Generation Steps
The mesh generation of a turbomachinery configuration is divided into 6 main steps:
Project Initialization
Project set up
Flow path control Optional
Blade to blade mesh control
3D mesh generation
Project persistency
FIGURE 3.4.0-1 Mesh
generation steps
Additional steps can be defined to mesh technological effects.
3-4.1
Project Initialization
AutoGrid5™ provides two different ways to initialize a new project according to the type of the geometry definition (".geomTurbo" or external CAD file). The dialog box Create a new Project (available through the menu item File/New Project) lets the choice between a manual initialization from external CAD file and an automatic initialization from a ".geomTurbo" file.
Expert Mode
Wizard Mode
FIGURE 3.4.1-1
3-10
Project initialization dialog box
AutoGrid5™
Mesh Generation Steps
Meshing Fundamentals
As mentioned in the previous chapter, the ".geomTurbo" file contains data used to set up automatically the number of rows and to link the geometry contained in the files.
3-4.2
Project Setup
The project setup can be divided in 3 main steps:
Geometry & Configuration definition
Global parameters settings
Default topology definition The geometry & configuration definition step is only needed if the project is initialized from external CAD file. In this case, the configuration of the machine must be set through the subpad Rows Definition of the Quick Access Pad and the link with the geometry must be done manually through the Import CAD window before starting the grid generation. Expert Mode
Wizard Mode
The global parameters settings involves the definition of the periodicity for each row (contextual menu Row/ Properties in Expert Mode or in the Blade row type dialog box in Wizard Mode), the shroud and hub gap definition (contextual menu Row/Define Shroud Gap & Row/Define Hub Gap in Expert Mode or in the Gap and Blending Control dialog box in Wizard Mode) and the first cell width at the solid wall definition (parameter Mesh Control/Row Mesh Control/Cell Width in the Quick Access Pad in Expert Mode or in the Layer Control dialog box in Wizard Mode).
Wizard Mode
AutoGrid5™
3-11
Meshing Fundamentals
Mesh Generation Steps
3-4.2.1 Row Properties The row contextual menu item Properties in Expert Mode opens the dialog box Row Properties. The options and parameters available into this dialog box controls the mesh generation of the rows.
a) Periodicity The parameter Periodicity defines the number of main blade passage into the row. It defines the pitch angle of the blade to blade domain pitch = 2PI/periodicity.
b) Number of Geometry Periodicity Usually the geometry is specified for one main blade passage: main blade and possibly the splitter surfaces. If the geometry is specified for 2 blade passages, the parameter Number Of Geometry Periodicity must be set to 2. This option is useful for dissymmetric blading.
c) Row Information The parameters Row Type, Row Orientation, Multi-splitters and Rotation Speed are information not used by the grid generation process. However the Rotation Speed will be used in FINE™ GUI.
d) Hub/Shroud/Shroud Gap Non-Axisymmetric These options allow to control the hub, shroud and shroud gap when non-axisymmetric. All these options are explained in details in section 5-4.2 and section 5-5.5.
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AutoGrid5™
Mesh Generation Steps
Meshing Fundamentals
e) Tandem Row The parameters Tandem Row must be set to Yes or to With Next/With Previous in case of tandem row. This is taken into account during the blade to blade grid generation process to improve the quality of the initial mesh (before optimization). The blade to blade process is explained in details in section 7-3.3.
f) Full Mesh Generation By default, the mesh is generated for 1 main blade passage. The parameter Generate Full Mesh can be switched on to generate all the blade passages. The mesh is obtained by repetition of the first blade passage.
g) Low Memory Use To reduce the memory usage, the parameters Low Memory Use can be switch on to swap on disk some data (i.e. the computation of the intersections) performed during the grid generation process. It is recommended to switch on this option when meshing multiple channels of blades defined using import CAD window.
h) Number of Repetition By default, when selecting the menu View/toggle 3D Solid View (section 2-3.3.7), a single blade of each row will appear in the 3D view. The number of blades in the graphics area can be repeated for each row individually using the Number Of Graphics Repetition parameter available in the Row Properties dialog box. Activate the Default option to see a complete view of all the blades of the selected row.
3-4.2.2 Hub/Shroud Gap (Expert Mode) The row contextual menu item Define Hub/Shroud Gap in Expert Mode opens the dialog box allowing to control the geometry and the meshing parameters of the gap as presented in section 63.3.
3-4.2.3 Cell Width The Cell Width imposed in the subpad Mesh Control in Expert Mode will allow to impose the cell width at the hub, shroud, shroud and hub gap, and the cell width at the wall in the blade to blade mesh. Afterwards, the cell width can be controlled in the meridional and in the blade to blade views (refer to chapters 5 and 6).
3-4.2.4 Mesh Control The default topology is set up automatically using the button (Re)set Default Topology of the top menu bar in Expert Mode. It defines the topology and the grid points distribution in the mesh. During this process, AutoGrid5™ searches an optimized topology according to some geometrical criterion and the grid level selected through the Mesh Control/Grid Level page of the Quick Access Pad:
AutoGrid5™
3-13
Meshing Fundamentals
3-4.3
Mesh Generation Steps
The button (Re)set Default Topology applies to the active row(s). The total number of points resulting from the automatic default topology settings depends of the geometry, the number of splitter, the shroud and/or hub gap definition (Coarse ≅ 150,000 points, Medium ≅ 300,000 points and Fine ≅ 1,000,000 points per blade).
Flow Paths Control
The 3D row meshes generated with AutoGrid5™ are obtained by stacking blade to blade meshes on surfaces of revolution generated from meridional curves called flow paths. Each row of the project has its own set of flow paths. In Expert Mode, the default number of flow paths is equal respectively to 33, 57, 97 (if the blade is without hub/shroud gap) according to the grid level chosen during the topology initialization (coarse, medium or fine mesh). This number can be modified through the Mesh Control/Row Mesh Control/Flow Paths Number parameter. In Wizard Mode, the number of flow paths is controlled in the Control Layer dialog box.
FIGURE 3.4.3-1 Flow
path definition
If the default flow path definition generated by AutoGrid5™ is not suitable for the project configuration or for the CFD computation, the features of the dialog box Row: Flow Paths Control can be used to obtain a complete control of the flow path definition. This dialog box is available through the menu item Mesh Control/Row Mesh Control/Flow Path Control in Expert Mode.
3-4.4
Blade to Blade Control
The 3D row meshes generated with AutoGrid5™ are obtained by stacking blade to blade meshes created in the (dm/r,theta) space. Each blade to blade mesh is related to a flow path. The "m" coordinate is equal to the curvilinear coordinate along this flow path. A blade to blade mesh is generated in four steps:
Blade(s) & Layer Intersection
Conformal Mapping
B2B Mesh Initialization
B2B Topology Optimization
3-14
AutoGrid5™
Mesh Generation Steps
Meshing Fundamentals
The button (Re)set Default Topology (Expert Mode) and the button Preview B2B in the B2B Control dialog box (Wizard Mode) perform automatically these steps. Afterwards, the user is able to modify manually the default settings proposed by AutoGrid5™ in Expert Mode.
3-4.4.1 Conformal Mapping The flow paths defined in the meridional space are used to create surfaces of revolution named layers. These surfaces are intersected by the blade(s) definition to obtain 3d sections projected into the (dm/r,theta) space. The projection, named conformal mapping, ensures reciprocity of the angles and distances.
Blade Blades cross sections
Layer
FIGURE 3.4.4-1 Blade
cross section
3-4.4.2 Blade to Blade Mesh Initialization The blade to blade mesh initialization is divided in 3 steps:
• Definition of a default topology around the cross sections projected in the (dm/r,theta) space. • Initialization of the grid point clustering. • Initialization of the mesh by transfinite interpolation.
a) Default (O4H) Blade to Blade Topology The default B2B topology computed by AutoGrid5™ is composed by 5 Blocks:
(dm/r,theta) cross section
Upper block
Inlet block
Outlet block
Skin block
Lower block
FIGURE 3.4.4-2 Default
AutoGrid5™
mesh topology
3-15
Meshing Fundamentals
Mesh Generation Steps
The inlet, outlet, upper and lower blocks use a H-topology. The skin block around the blade uses a O-topology. The (Re)set Default Topology settings algorithm can change the upper and/or the lower blocks topologies from H to C-topology if one of the following criteria is reached:
• The inlet solid angle of the blade becomes higher than 45 degrees and the distance between the inlet and the stagnation points (in the (dm/r,theta) space) becomes smaller than the pitch angle divided by 4.
• The outlet solid angle of the blade becomes higher than 45 degrees and the distance between the outlet and the trailing edge (in the (dm/r,theta) space) becomes smaller than the pitch angle divided by 4. This mesh topology adaptation is called high staggered blade topology optimization:
C block
H block
FIGURE 3.4.4-3 Mesh
topology for high staggered blade
Beside the default (O4H) topology (5 blocks), AutoGrid5™ allows the use of HOH and H&I topology, and gives access to a manual blocking mode named User Defined Topology mode. In this mode, the user creates its own blocking and control manually the grid points clustering (more details in Chapter 7).
3-16
The topology can be modified through the dialog box Define B2B Topology For Active Blade. This dialog box is available through the menu item Mesh Control/Row Mesh Control/B2B Mesh Topology Control in Expert Mode.
AutoGrid5™
Mesh Generation Steps
Meshing Fundamentals
b) Grid Points Clustering The feature (Re)set Default Topology computes the most appropriated grid points clustering on each block edge of the default topology (and possibly the HOH or H&I topology) according to the chosen grid level.
The grid point number can be modified through the dialog box Define B2B Topology For Active Blade. This dialog box is available through the menu item Mesh Control/Row Mesh Control/B2B Mesh Topology Control in Expert Mode.
c) Initial Mesh The initial mesh is computed using transfinite interpolation techniques inside all the blocks of the default topology except in the skin block inside which a hyperbolic mesh is generated.
FIGURE 3.4.4-4 Initial
AutoGrid5™
mesh for a normal blade
The parameters used to control the initial mesh can be modified through the dialog box Define B2B Topology For Active Blade. This dialog box is available through the menu item Mesh Control/Row Mesh Control/B2B Mesh Topology Control in Expert Mode.
3-17
Meshing Fundamentals
Mesh Generation Steps
3-4.4.3 Blade to Blade Mesh Optimization The optimization system is based on a multiblock elliptic smoother with source terms. All the blocks of the initial mesh (all edges included except the solid wall) are optimized to reduce the cell skewness and the cells expansion ratio
FIGURE 3.4.4-5 High
staggered mesh optimization
The parameters used to control the optimization can be modified through the dialog box Optimization Properties. This dialog box is available through the menu item Mesh Control/Row Mesh Control/Optimization Control in Expert Mode.
3-4.4.4 Blade to Blade View Control The blade to blade view is used to display and control the quality of the blade to blade mesh of the rows. The blade to blade mesh quality can also be controlled using the menu Grid/Grid Quality... or the corresponding icon (
)
a) Display Update After each modification of the blade to blade topology, the grid points number, the initial mesh or the optimization parameters, the blade to blade view of the active row(s) can be updated using the top menu bar button Generate B2B in Expert Mode or the button Preview B2B in the B2B Control dialog box in Wizard Mode.
b) Active Layer The blade to blade view of the row is related to an active layer. By default, the active layer is the hub of the machine. The interaction area Mesh Control/Active B2B Layer is used to change the active layer on which the blade to blade mesh is computed and displayed.
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AutoGrid5™
Mesh Generation Steps
Meshing Fundamentals
Active Layer
FIGURE 3.4.4-6
Active layer set to 100% (shroud) of the span
In multistage configuration, the user controls row by row the blade to blade display. A particular attention must be focused on the undesirable behaviour obtained when different blade to blade row meshes are displayed for different active layers: as the blade to blade view abscissa is the arc length on the active layer, the blade to blade mesh of different rows could overlap if they are displayed on different layers. To avoid this and retrieve a correct display, all the rows must be selected and the top menu bar button Generate B2B in Expert Mode or the button Update B2B View in the Mesh Control/Active B2B Layer area in Wizard Mode, applied after selecting the new active layer.
AutoGrid5™
In case of a blade to blade user-defined topology (see section 7-6), when defining an active layer which is not a control layer, internal faces are inserted in blocks to compute the mesh and then they are removed. Therefore this layer is not available for grid quality control.
3-19
Meshing Fundamentals
3-4.5
Mesh Generation Steps
3D Mesh Generation
The 3D mesh generation of the active blade rows is performed through the top menu bar button Generate 3D. The 3D mesh is automatically computed by AutoGrid5™ and displayed in the 3D view. A mesh quality report can be computed and displayed with the top menu item Grid/Grid Quality Report (
).
FIGURE 3.4.5-1 3D
3-4.6
grid generation & quality check
Project Persistency
The project persistency is performed using the menu items of the File menu. The name and the location of the project files are entered through the dialog box Save Project available through the top menu item File/Save Project.
3-20
AutoGrid5™
Mesh Generation Steps
Meshing Fundamentals
New project Overwrite the project selected in the project library
Project library
Project Info
FIGURE 3.4.6-1 Save
Project dialog box
3-4.6.1 Create New Project The button Select a new Project File Name opens a file chooser used to specify the location and the prefix use to save the new project files. The new prefix is automatically added in the project library.
3-4.6.2 Overwrite Existing Project The button Overwrite the Selected Project overwrites all the project files of the project selected in the project library.
3-4.6.3 Project Library The project library is the list of all projects saved previously. It is ordered using alphabetical order and a quick search can be performed using the Search interaction area.
3-4.6.4 Project Info The interaction area Enter Project Info is used to specify or modify text information about the saved project. When scanning the library, the interaction area is automatically updated with the text of the selected project.
3-4.6.5 Project Files Two types of files are saved by AutoGrid5™: the mesh and the template files.
a) Mesh files The mesh files contain the multiblock mesh topology, geometry, grid points, patch grouping and the boundary condition types:
AutoGrid5™
3-21
Meshing Fundamentals
• • • • • •
Mesh Generation Steps
new_prefix.bcs: boundary conditions files new_prefix.cgns: grid points files (CGNS format) new_prefix.geom and new_prefix.xmt_txt (.X_T): geometry files new_prefix.igg: topology file new_prefix.qualityReport: mesh quality report file new_prefix.config: mesh configuration file used for the grouping in FINE™ GUI and for the subProject (more details in FINE™ User Manual)
These files can be loaded into the structured multiblock grid generation system IGG™ and by the CFD integrated environment FINE™/Turbo.
The mesh quality file is saved at the end of the grid generation. If the new project has not yet been saved before launching the 3D generation, no grid quality report file will be saved because the system is not able to determine automatically the file location.
b) Template files The template files contain the parameters and the geometry needed to reproduced the mesh with AutoGrid5™:
• new_prefix.geomTurbo and new_prefix.geomTurbo.xmt_txt (.geomTurbo.X_T): the geometry files (geomTurbo format)
• • • •
new_prefix.info: the information file new_prefix.trb: the template file containing the grid generation parameters. new_prefix_b2b.png: a picture of the blade to blade view new_prefix_merid.png: a picture of the meridional view
In some cases, the Parasolid™ file (".X_T" (Windows) or ".xmt_txt" (UNIX)) is also needed in AutoGrid5™ to replay the template (using ".geomTurbo.X_T") or to load the project (using ".X_T"):
• If the Import CAD window is used with Parasolid™ or CATIAV5 entities. For IGES and IGG™ native files the Parasolid™ file is not needed as these are stored in the ".geomTurbo" file.
• If AutoGrid5™ creates additional surfaces/curves in the available options, these are stored in Parasolid™ file as well. For example, if the Import CAD window is used to define the geometry, the expansion is treated in Parasolid™ and the resulting surfaces are Parasolid™ entities, even if the initial geometry was IGES or native IGG™.
3-4.6.6 Open Project File Open an existing project is performed using the menu item Open Project of the top menu File. The geometry, the parameters and the existing mesh are loaded during this process. The project is opened by selecting its template file (".trb" extension). The template file of the project can be selected through a file chooser or through the project library of the Open Turbo Project Wizard. The Open Project Turbo Wizard is divided into three areas presented on Figure 3.4.6-2.
a) Select Project File This button opens a file chooser used to select a template file (".trb" extension).
3-22
AutoGrid5™
Meshing Similar Geometry & Batch Mode
Meshing Fundamentals
b) Project File Library All the previously generated projects can be selected in the list and opened using the button Open. The last opened project becomes the active project of the list.
c) Project Information Area The button Info>> opens the information area containing two pictures of the selected project, the userdefined and global information of the project. This information are automatically updated when scanning the projects of the list.
(A)
(C)
(B)
FIGURE 3.4.6-2 Open
3-5
turbo project wizard
Meshing Similar Geometry & Batch Mode
When a particular turbomachinery configuration has been meshed within AutoGrid5™, the original template files of the project can be used to mesh automatically similar geometries.
AutoGrid5™
In AutoGrid5™ when using an existing template for different geometry, it is not sufficient to rename the template as the ".geomTurbo" file (as in AutoGrid4™). It is mandatory to use a ".geomTurbo" file presenting the same row and blade names as the ones used in the template (e.g. when using a new ".geomTurbo", only the geometrical entities
3-23
Meshing Fundamentals
Meshing Similar Geometry & Batch Mode
with the same naming as the ones used in the template file will be replaced). The original template file and ".geomTurbo" file are first duplicated using the menu item File/Save Template As. The geometry in the duplicated ".geomTurbo" file is then replaced by the user by a similar geometry. Finally, AutoGrid5™ is launched in batch mode using command lines arguments specifying the template ".trb" file, the geometry ".geomTurbo" file and the target location of the mesh files: igg -niversion -autogrid5 -batch -trb -geomTurbo mesh -print on UNIX/Linux, igg.exe -autogrid5 -batch -trb -geomTurbo -mesh print on Windows. where , , and are respectively the version number and the full path names of the template file (".trb" extension), the geometry file (".geomTurbo" extension) and the mesh file (".igg" extension). For example: igg -niversion 87_2 -autogrid5 -batch -trb /usr/user1/template/template1.trb -geomTurbo /usr/ user1/geometry/geometry1.geomTurbo -mesh /usr/user1/mesh/mesh1.igg on UNIX/Linux, igg.exe -autogrid5 -batch -trb c:/usr/user1/template/template1.trb -geomTurbo c:/usr/user1/geometry/geometry1.geomTurbo -mesh c:/usr/user1/mesh/mesh1.igg on Windows.
The location of the grid quality report file can also be specified using the command line: -qualityReport . The option -real_batch can also be specified to allow to generate the mesh in batch mode without the need of a display: igg -niversion 87_2 -real_batch -autogrid5 -trb ... When the original geometry has been specified through external CAD geometry files, the similar geometry CAD files can also be specified using the command lines: -dat -dat ...
Create Original Template
Duplicate Template
Replace Geometry
Generate New Mesh using Batch Mode
FIGURE 3.5.0-1
3-24
Batch Generation
AutoGrid5™
CHAPTER 4:
4-1
Wizard Mode
Overview
The Wizard Mode is a simplified mode allowing to create meshes for a large range of turbomachinery configurations without technological effects and/or cooling effects such as:
The Wizard Mode has been designed to reduce drastically the number of options available in the interface in order to simplify the user life when meshing blade rows without technological effects and/or cooling effects. This mode is available in Expert Mode when selecting Wizard Mode in the top right toolbar by clicking on the arrow at the right of the user mode combo box. In addition to the simplified interface, a row wizard offers an easy way to set up the mesh generation parameters according to the type of the machine. The row wizard is available using the button Row Mesh Set Up of the top menu bar in Wizard Mode or using the button Start Row Wizard through the Mesh Control/Grid Level page of the Quick Access Pad in Expert Mode.
AutoGrid5™
4-1
Wizard Mode
4-2
Wizard Mode GUI
Wizard Mode GUI
The Wizard Mode has been designed to reduce drastically the number of options available in the interface in order to simplify the user life when meshing blade rows without technological effects and/or cooling effects. In Expert Mode, this mode is available when selecting Wizard Mode in the top right toolbar by clicking on the arrow at the right of the user mode combo box. Menu bar (section 4-2.1)
User Mode
Toolbar (section 4-2.2)
Graphics area (section 4-7)
Quick Access Pad (section 4-5) Control area (section 4-6)
FIGURE 4.2.0-1 AutoGrid5™
Wizard Mode Interface.
Together with the AutoGrid5™ interface, a Open Turbo Project Wizard window is opened, which allows to open an existing project. See section 2-2.2 for description of this window.
4-2.1
Main Menu Bar
The menu bar contains a part of available options of AutoGrid5™. Menu items can be activated using click and drag or click and release modes. More details on each menu is available in section 2-3.
• File menu: Open/New/Save and Save Project As, Save and Save Template As • View menu: Patch Viewer, Sweep surfaces, Coarse Grid, Repetition, Face Displacement, View and Hide 3D Solid Mesh
4-2
AutoGrid5™
Wizard Mode GUI
Wizard Mode
• Grid menu: Boundary Conditions, Grid Quality, Grid Quality Report and Negative Cells • Module menu: IGG, AutoGrid4 and AutoGrid5 switch menu items
4-2.2
Toolbar
The toolbar contains icons and buttons providing fast input/output options. These are divided into 6 sections:
• • • • • •
the user mode combo box: Wizard Mode/Expert Mode the project management icons the mesh generation buttons the view and mesh quality icons the view management icons the copy/paste row topology icons
Mesh Generation Buttons
Project Management Icons
View & Mesh Quality Icons
View Management Icons
FIGURE 4.2.2-1 Top
User Mode
Copy/Paste Row Topology Icons
toolbar
4-2.2.1 User Mode By clicking on the arrow at the right the user may select the user mode.
4-2.2.2 Project Management Icons These icons are related to the most often used options of project management. TABLE 13. Project
Icon
Management icons
Description Opens an existing project previously created by AutoGrid5™. See the File/Open Project menu item description on section 2-3.1.1.
AutoGrid5™
4-3
Wizard Mode TABLE 13. Project
Icon
Wizard Mode GUI Management icons
Description Closes the current project and opens a new empty one. See the File/New Project menu item description on section 2-3.1.2. Saves the current work in the files of the current project. See the File/Save Project menu item description on section 2-3.1.3.
4-2.2.3 Mesh Generation Buttons These buttons are used to start the mesh wizard or the 3D mesh generation. TABLE 14. Mesh
Generation buttons
Buttons
Description Start the row wizard process for the selected row. Generate the flow paths, the blade to blade mesh and the 3d mesh of the selected rows. See the Generate 3D button description on Chapter 8.
4-2.2.4 View & Mesh Quality Management Icons These icons are related to view management and the mesh quality analysis. TABLE 15. View
Icon
& Mesh Quality Management icons
Description Open the Mesh Quality dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the Grid/Grid Quality menu item description on section 2-3.4.3. Open the Grid Quality Check dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the Grid/Grid Quality Report menu item description on section 2-3.4.4. Open the Negative Cells dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the Grid/Negative Cells menu item description on section 2-3.4.6. Open the Patch Selector dialog box of AutoGrid5™ . See the Grid/Boundary Conditions menu item description on section 2-3.4.2. Select the grid level used by AutoGrid5™ to visualize the mesh. See the View/Coarse Grid menu item description on section 2-3.3.3. Open the Sweep Surface dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the View/Sweep Surface menu item description on section 2-3.3.2. Act as a toggle and perform a repetition in the blade-to-blade or 3D views based on the settings imposed by the user in the View Repetition dialog box of AutoGrid5™. See the View/Repetition menu item description on section 2-3.3.4.
4-4
AutoGrid5™
Wizard Mode GUI
Wizard Mode
TABLE 15. View
Icon
& Mesh Quality Management icons
Description Visualize or hide the solid model of the machine in the 3D view. See the View/toggle 3D Solid View menu item description on section 2-3.3.7. Set the active view in full display mode.
Reset the display mode to multiview.
4-2.2.5 View Management Icons These icons allow to set any view in full display mode or to reset the display mode to multiview. TABLE 16. View
Management icons
Icon
Description Set meridional view in full display mode. Set blade-to-blade view in full display mode. Set 3D view in full display mode. Reset the display mode to multiview.
4-2.2.6 Copy/Paste Row Topology Icons The copy/paste topology icons allow the user to apply same wizard options from one row to others. It is especially dedicated for multistage machine with several rows of same type (i.e. axial compressor or axial turbine). TABLE 17. Copy/Paste
Icon
Row Topology icons Description Copy the selected row wizard options into a buffer. Replace the selected row(s) wizard options by the wizard options stored into the current buffer.
4-2.3
Quick Access Pad
The Quick Access Pad is located in the left part of the GUI. It contains icons and more evolved options providing a fast access to the more used functions of AutoGrid5™. Some of these functions are only accessible through the Quick Access Pad whereas others are also accessible through the menu bar, so that their description will be referenced to these menus. The pad is divided into four subpads, each of which can be toggled by a simple mouse left-click:
• Rows Definition subpad
AutoGrid5™
4-5
Wizard Mode
Wizard Mode GUI
• Geometry Definition subpad • Mesh Control subpad • View subpad All the commands and options accessible with these subpads are described in detail in this section. The four subpads are composed of pages containing buttons, icons, input areas. The icons perform specific function related to the subpad and the page. Each page can also be toggled by a simple mouse left-click.
Rows Definition subpad to control the machine configuration
Geometry Definition subpad to define the geometry of hub, shroud, nozzle and blades
Mesh Control subpad to update the mesh in blade-to-blade view
View subpad to control the mesh representation
Grid Parameters area
FIGURE 4.2.3-1
4-6
Quick Access Pad
AutoGrid5™
Wizard Mode GUI
Wizard Mode
4-2.3.1 Rows Definition Subpad The rows definition subpad is used to control the machine configuration through project management buttons and a tree. In the rows definition tree subpad, the user can access following options:
• • • •
Select all the rows Define new rows Define or remove new blade(s) through the row contextual menu (right-click) Define and control the blade geometry through the blade contextual menu (right-click)
Row menu Blade menu FIGURE 4.2.3-2 Contextual
popup menus
4-2.3.2 Geometry Definition Subpad The geometry definition subpad gives access to:
• The project initialization through the selection of a native AutoGrid5™ geomTurbo file (section 3-3.1).
• The geometry initialization through external CAD files (section 5-3). The import CAD window has been simplified to give access only to blade and end wall geometry definition.
• The units definition (section 2-5.2).
4-2.3.3 Mesh Control Subpad The mesh control subpad displays the number of mesh points of the selected row(s) and allows to choose the layer (Active Layer (% span)) on which the user wants to display the blade-to-blade mesh by pressing the button Update B2B View.
AutoGrid5™
4-7
Wizard Mode
Row Wizard
4-2.3.4 View Subpad The view control subpad is used to control the display of mesh entities in the blade-to-blade view and in the 3D view. When clicking in the 3D view or pressing the viewing icon View 3D, the viewing buttons are associated to the mesh field of application buttons and the Geometry Definition and Mesh Control subpads are closed.
4-3
Row Wizard
After defining the geometry, a row wizard provides an easy way to set up the mesh properties through a wizard. The wizard is launched using the button Row Mesh Set Up in Wizard Mode or Start Row Wizard in Expert Mode: Expert Mode
Wizard Mode
The wizard is composed be a set of dialog boxes. Each dialog box is related to the set up of a set of mesh generation parameters. They contains buttons Cancel, OK, <>, Next>> or Finish to control the set up process.
• • • • • •
The Cancel button suppresses all the parameters already set by the wizard. The OK button is used to quit the wizard and keep the parameters already set. The <> button is used to skip the settings of the dialog box. The Next>> button is used to go the next dialog box. The Finish button is used to quit the wizard and launch the 3D mesh generation.
The wizard is divided in 6 steps:
• • • • • •
4-8
The geometry check (optional) The machine characteristics definition The gap and fillet definition The flow path definition The blade-to-blade mesh definition The end of the initialization
AutoGrid5™
Row Wizard
4-3.1
Wizard Mode
Geometry Check
When launching the wizard, AutoGrid5™ warns the user that mesh generation parameters will be modified by the wizard and prompts the user to continue. This reset will keep the modifications performed by the user in the Wizard Mode but will reset to the default value the parameters modified in Expert Mode. Then AutoGrid5™ proposes to check the geometry.
If a geometry check is asked (Yes button), a dialog box displays the geometry status. If the geometry is OK, a button Next prompts the user to continue the wizard.
4-3.2
Geometry Check OK
Geometry Check not OK
Only one row must be selected before launching the wizard. If no row or multiple rows are selected, AutoGrid5™ warns the user and quits the wizard.
Machine Characteristics Definition
After the geometry check, the Blade row type dialog box is opened.
AutoGrid5™
4-9
Wizard Mode
Row Wizard
At this stage, the machine type is specified: Wind Turbine, Axial Turbine, Francis Turbine, Kaplan Turbine, Inducer, Axial Compressor, Centrifugal Impeller, Centrifugal Diffuser, Return Channel, Counter Rotative Fan, SHF pump and Axial Fan. By default no blade type is selected. The user must also define the row periodicity, the rotation status (rotor or stator) and the rotation speed. According to the machine type, AutoGrid5™ will choose and adapt the most appropriated mesh generation parameters available in AutoGrid5™ expert mode.
4-3.3
Gap/Fillet Definition
The next step of the wizard is used to define the gaps and the blade fillets if needed. Tip Gap
Hub Fillet In case of inducer, axial compressor, axial turbine or Kaplan turbine with rotor mode active, the first time the wizard is executed, AutoGrid5™ automatically defines a tip gap into the mesh configuration. If hub and/or tip gap or hub and/or tip fillet already exists in the project configuration, the user can keep unmodified their definition by pressing the button Skip>>. At this stage, the meridional view display the gap or fillet definition. The user can control the gap or fillet width at leading and trailing edge. By default, the widths are set equal to the blade height divided by 20. When selecting the hub gap or tip gap option, the respective hub fillet or tip fillet option is automatically frozen and reversibly.
4-3.4
When pressing the button Next>>, a message warns the user if the fillet does cut the limit of the domain.
Flow Path Definition
The fourth stage of the wizard controls the cell width at the wall and the number of flow paths. The spanwise expansion ratio is continuously updated after each user's change. The flow paths are automatically displayed and updated into the meridional view.
4-10
AutoGrid5™
Row Wizard
Wizard Mode
By default, the number of flow paths is set to 57. If tip and/or hub gap/fillet are defined previously in the Gap and Blending Control dialog box, the number of flow paths is increased by 16 or 32 (73 or 89 flow paths). When increasing or decreasing the number of flow paths, the number of flow paths in the gaps and fillets is automatically updated as well as the percentage of constant cells:
• the flow paths in the gap or fillet will be 25 for N>=129, 21 for N>=97, 17 for N>=65, 13 for N>=33 and 9 for N<33 (N is the number of flow paths).
• the percentage of constant cells will be 80 for N’>=157, 70 for N’>=129, 60 for N’>=97, 50 for N’>=81, 40 for N’>=65, 30 for N’>=33, 0 for N’<33 (N’ is the number of mid flow paths corresponding to N - gap/fillet flow paths).
4-3.5
Blade-to-Blade Mesh Definition
The last stage of the wizard is used to set up all the blade-to-blade parameters for the mesh generation. All the expert parameters are set automatically according to the type of machine and the bladeto-blade geometry configuration.
When selecting the button Preview B2B, the blade-to-blade mesh is displayed in the blade-to-blade view. The Minimum Skewness Angle and the Maximum Expansion Ratio are displayed in the dialog box. The option Full Visibility allows to see the mesh moving in the blade to blade view when applying the modified blade to blade mesh parameters.
AutoGrid5™
4-11
Wizard Mode
Row Wizard
The Grid Level of the mesh can be increased or decreased with the buttons << and >>. AutoGrid5™ automatically changes the number of grid points in all the area of the mesh. An estimation of the total number of grid points is continuously updated and displayed after each user changes.
In addition, the option Skewness and Expansion Ratio can be used to display the quality color contour.
If the machine type is not an inducer, a Kaplan turbine or a shf pump and the high staggered blade optimization is high at inlet, low at outlet or low at inlet and high at outlet, a full matching mesh can be imposed between the channel and the gap when a hub or tip gap is defined with the option Full Matching Mesh.
4-12
AutoGrid5™
Row Wizard
Wizard Mode
4-3.6
A non-matching connection could be created in the gap if the throat control is activated automatically during the setup of the expert parameters. If Full Matching Mesh is active, the throat control will not be activated.
Initialization End
When previewing the mesh (Preview B2B button in B2B Control dialog box or Update B2B View in Mesh Control subpad) or finishing the initialization (Finish button in B2B Control dialog box), AutoGrid5™ imposes automatically cell width around the inlet and outlet limit of the row to ensure streamwise continuity through the rotor stator line. The minimum value between two successive blades is chosen. When clicking on the button Finish, AutoGrid5™ proposes to start the 3D mesh generation of the selected row by clicking on yes.
Selecting no stops the 3D mesh generation process and allows the user to view the blade-to-blade mesh on another active layer (Mesh Control subpad) or to switch in Expert Mode to verify and control the mesh parameters set by AutoGrid5™ mesh wizard. When the parameters are well defined, clicking on Generate 3D button in the toolbar will start the 3D mesh generation process.
4-3.7
MultiStage Management
The row wizard is useful for a quick setup of the mesh for all the rotors and stators of a multistage turbomachine:
• the row wizard is applied on the first rotor and on the first stator • the first rotor is selected and the button Copy Row Topology pressed
AutoGrid5™
4-13
Wizard Mode
Row Wizard
• all the other rotors are selected and the button Paste Row Topology pressed to apply the same wizard parameters to the other rotors.
• the first stator is selected and the button Copy Row Topology pressed • all the other stators are selected and the button Paste Row Topology pressed to apply the same wizard parameters to the other stators.
4
2 1
3
4-3.8
Automatic Blade-to-Blade Settings
When clicking on the Preview B2B button in the dialog box B2B Control (section 4-3.5), AutoGrid5™ modifies expert parameters according to the machine type and the geometry configuration. All the parameters of the Define B2B Topology for Active Blade and Optimization Properties dialog boxes (Chapter 7) available in Expert Mode are updated during this operation.
4-3.8.1 Global Settings a) Upstream & Downstream H blocks Definition AutoGrid5™ automatically is adding and unfixing upstream and downstream control lines following the blade leading and trailing meridional shapes. These lines are created for all the machine types and are useful to activate the high staggered blade topology optimization. The number of points in the streamwise direction before the upstream control line (N1) and after the downstream control line (N3) is computed automatically based on the length and the number of points (N2) in the streamwise direction between the control lines. N1 = 0.5*N2*L1/L2 N3 = 0.5*N2*L3/L2
4-14
AutoGrid5™
Row Wizard
Wizard Mode
L1
L2
L3
b) Blade-to-Blade Topology The default matching O4H topology is used by the wizard. When the row geometry contains splitter blades or if the machine type is a centrifugal impeller, the H&I topology is automatically activated. In case of a rotor, a tip gap is defined by default in the Gap and Blending Control dialog box.
c) High Staggered Topology According to the blade solid angle (section 7-3.2) computed on the hub (βhub) and shroud (βshroud) layer, the high staggered topology optimization is automatically activated. The topology is highly staggered if:
• βhub>35° and βshroud>35° • βhub>60° and βshroud>-20° • βshroud>60° and βhub>-20° • βshroud>50° and βhub>-10° • βshroud>45° and βhub>=-1° • βhub>45° and βshroud>=-1°
d) Blade-to-Blade Grid Points For grid level 0, the default number of points on the blade is set to 81. When decreasing or increasing the grid level the number of points on the blade is set to ensure 3 multigrid levels. The number of points in the blade-to-blade mesh is controlled by the number of flow paths (N):
• The number of points in the skin block: 9 if N<49, 17 if N<97, 25 if N<129 and 33 if N>=129. • The number of points at leading edge and trailing edge: 9 if N<57, 17 if N<89, 25 if N<105 and 33 if N>=105.
• The number of points in the gap boundary layer: 9 if N<49, 17 if N<97 and 25 if N>=97. • The number of points in inlet and outlet blocks along streamwise direction: 9 if N<65, 17 if N<105, 25 if N<129 and 33 if N>=129.
• The number of points in up and down blocks along azimuthal direction:9 if N<49, 17 if N<97, 25 if N<129 and 33 if N>=129.
AutoGrid5™
In addition when high staggered mode is active, the number of points is computed in up
4-15
Wizard Mode
Row Wizard
& down blocks to obtain a high quality mesh. The method also ensures at least 3 multigrid levels.
• The number of points along the blunt leading or trailing edge is automatically updated to reduce the expansion ratio to 1.6 for grid level <=2, 1.4 for grid level <=4 and 1.2 for grid level >4. For H&I topology, the number of points is automatically computed according the grid level and AutoGrid5™ imposes variation of the streamwise weight to recompute grid points distribution.
e) Throat Control The throat control is automatically activated when:
• the machine type is a Kaplan turbine, inducer, shf pump or Francis turbine, • the high staggered mode is high and low or low and high and the throat angle is < 60° at hub, shroud and midspan.
Throat Angle
f) Sharp & Rounded Treatment The sharp treatment is automatically activated for blade edge angle higher than 25°. The rounded treatment is automatically activated for blunt blade of Kaplan and Francis turbines.
g) B2B Mesh Parameters • • • •
The free outlet and inlet angle are activated. The minimum expansion ratio is computed automatically. The leading and trailing edge clustering is set to the cell width at wall for blunt blade. The interpolation level is set to 2%.
h) Optimization Parameters • • • • •
The number of smoothing steps is set to 200. The number of smoothing steps in the gap is set to 100. The skewness control is set to off. The skewness control in the gap is set to off. The multigrid acceleration is set to on.
4-16
AutoGrid5™
Row Wizard
• • • •
Wizard Mode
The orthogonality level is set to 0.5. The orthogonality level in the gap is set to 0.5. The multisplitter control flag is set to off. The number of boundary smoothing steps is set to 0.
4-3.8.2
Machine Dedicated Settings
According to the type of machine, the defaults settings described above can be changed.
a) Wind Turbine Settings
The wizard of the wind turbine is composed by 6 steps controlling the main parameters of the mesh generation of the wind turbine:
• • • • • •
Geometry check (optional) Dedicated pseudo shroud and upstream and downstream limit definition, Dedicated blade flow paths definition, Dedicated far field limit and far field flow path definition, Blade-to-blade mesh accuracy definition, 3D mesh generation.
Control Upstream and DownStream limits When the wizard is launched, the Shroud Control dialog box allows to control the pseudo shroud location and the upstream/downstream limits.
AutoGrid5™ creates automatically a horizontal pseudo shroud located at a radius (R) defined by: R=(Rtip x Blade Tip R Value) - (1e-5 x BladeHeight) The normalized parameters Far Field Zmin Value and Far Field Zmax Value are used to located the inlet and outlet of the domain using the blade location (Zref) and the blade height (BladeHeight) as normalisation value:
AutoGrid5™
4-17
Wizard Mode
Row Wizard
Lupstream = abs(BladeHeight x Far Field Zmin Value) Ldownstream = abs(BladeHeight x Far Field Zmax Value)
Control Flow Paths Definition The Layers Control dialog box of the wizard is used to control the flow paths number and the flow paths distribution on the blade by defining the cell width at hub and shroud and the percentage of constant cells.
The Spanwise Expansion Ratio is displayed in the dialog box.
If the blade height is respectively upper or lower than 1000, the cell width at wall is automatically set to 1e-2 or 1e-5.
Control Far Field Domain The third dialog box is used to control the domain up to the blade (far field).
The far field limit is controlled by the parameters Far Field R Value normalized with the blade height:
4-18
AutoGrid5™
Row Wizard
Wizard Mode
H = Far Field R Value x BladeHeight
H
In addition, the number and the distribution of the layers in the far field can be modified. Automatically, at the end of the wizard procedure, a ZR effect named far field is created to control the grid generation process of the domain up to the blade.
The following dedicated settings are changed automatically:
• The new topology (Wind Turbine (WT) High Staggered) is activated automatically if the blade solid angle at mid span is upper than 45°.
Wind Turbine (WT) High Staggered
• A rounded treatment is applied at the blunt trailing edge (Wind Turbine and Wind Turbine (WT) High Staggered topologies).
• • • • • •
AutoGrid5™
The optimization steps is set to 5000. The multigrid acceleration is set to off. The free inlet and outlet angle are set to off and mesh is frozen (if the blade solid angle < 45°). The straight boundary initialization is set to on. The interpolation level is set to 10%. The butterfly bulb topology is applied when the configuration is presenting a bulb.
4-19
Wizard Mode
Row Wizard
b) Axial Turbine Settings
In case of a rotor, a tip gap is defined by default.
c) Francis Turbine Settings
• A rounded treatment is applied at the blunt trailing edge.
• The throat control is active. • The H bulb topology is applied when the configuration is presenting a bulb.
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AutoGrid5™
Row Wizard
Wizard Mode
d) Kaplan Turbine Settings
• • • •
A rounded treatment is applied at the blunt trailing edge. The throat control is active. The H bulb topology is applied when the configuration is presenting a bulb. In case of a rotor, a tip gap is defined by default.
e) Inducer Settings
• A tip gap is defined by default. • When defining the geometry using a geomTurbo native format, leading and trailing edge fitting is active (section 5-5.1.3)
• • • • • •
AutoGrid5™
The throat control is active. The default number of points at grid level 0 is set to 129 on the blade. The free inlet and outlet angle are set to off and mesh is frozen. The mesh relaxation at inlet/outlet is active. The optimization steps is set to 1500. The butterfly bulb topology is applied when the configuration is presenting a bulb.
4-21
Wizard Mode
Row Wizard
f) Axial Compressor Settings
In case of a rotor, a tip gap is defined by default.
g) Centrifugal Impeller Settings
If the machine type is a centrifugal impeller, the H&I topology is automatically activated.
h) Radial Diffuser Settings
No dedicated settings applied.
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AutoGrid5™
Row Wizard
Wizard Mode
i) Return Channel Settings
No dedicated settings applied.
j) Counter Rotative Fan Settings
• The number of points along azimuthal direction is multiply by 2. • Dedicated far field limit and far field flow path definition control (more details in Wind Turbine Settings).
k) SHF Pump Settings
• The throat control is active.
AutoGrid5™
4-23
Wizard Mode
• • • •
Row Wizard
The default number of points at grid level 0 is set to 129 on the blade. The free inlet and outlet angle are set to off and mesh is frozen. The optimization steps is set to 500. The straight boundary initialization is set to on.
l) Axial Fan Settings
• The new topology (Wind Turbine (WT) High Staggered) is used automatically if the blade solid angle at mid span is upper than 45°.
• • • • •
A rounded treatment is applied at the blunt trailing edge. The optimization steps is set to 500. The free inlet and outlet angle are set to off and mesh is frozen (if the blade solid angle < 45°). The straight boundary initialization is set to on. The butterfly bulb topology is applied when the configuration is presenting a bulb.
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AutoGrid5™
CHAPTER 5:
5-1
Geometry Definition
Overview
In addition to define the geometry using a ".geomTurbo" file, the geometry definition can be performed interactively through the Import CAD window. Geometry data can be imported from several CAD file formats, interactively selected and linked to configuration entities in an AutoGrid5™ project. The user can build a test case starting from scratch and using CAD data in an interactive way. The blade geometry is defined by selecting one or more surfaces while the definition of other configuration features such as the leading edge, the trailing edge, the hub, the shroud, is performed by selecting one or more curves and attaching that curve selection to the required feature.
5-2
Import ".geomTurbo" File
Within AutoGrid5™, the ".geomTurbo" file format (more details in Chapter 3) can be imported in different ways:
• when creating a new project (File/New Project (
)), a Create a new Project window appears that allows to initialize a new project from an existing ".geomTurbo" file. Then a File Chooser window is available for browsing through the file system and to select a file. When clicking on OK (Open) the geometry is loaded in AutoGrid5™.
AutoGrid5™
5-1
Geometry Definition
Import CAD
• in the Quick Access Pad Geometry Definition subpad, the Import Geometry File menu allows to select and load geometry file (IGES, IGG™ geometry, Parasolid™ coupled with ".dat", ".geomturbo’, CATIAV5 files) to define or replace the geometry of the entities found in the file.
• in the Quick Access Pad Rows Definition subpad, the popup menu on rows allows to load a ".geomTurbo" file to define or replace the geometry of the selected entities found in the file. After row(s) selection, right-click displays this menu. Define Geometry item replaces only the geometry of the row (blades, shroud/hub gap, cooling wall, ...) selected. To import a new hub or shroud, the Import CAD window must be used.
5-3
In AutoGrid5™ when using an existing template for different geometry, it is not sufficient to rename the template as the ".geomTurbo" file (as in AutoGrid4™). It is mandatory to use a ".geomTurbo" file presenting the same row and blade names as the ones used in the template (e.g. when using a new ".geomTurbo", only the geometrical entities with the same naming as the ones used in the template file will be replaced). AutoGrid4™ ".geomTurbo" file can be loaded within AutoGrid5™. When AutoGrid4™ geometry file loaded, a warning will appear before loading.
Import CAD
The Import CAD window is started by clicking on Import and Link CAD in the Quick Access Pad Geometry Definition subpad.
5-2
AutoGrid5™
Import CAD
Geometry Definition
Menu Bar Quick Access Pad
Viewing Buttons
FIGURE 5.3.0-1 Import
5-3.1
CAD window
Menu Bar
The menu bar gives access to several options which can be useful during the setup of a project.
• The pull-down menu File used to import and/or export geometry data in several CAD formats. • The pull-down menu Geometry used to perform some geometry editing operations such as creation of geometric entities
• The pull-down menu Edit used to specify the rotation axis of the configuration being defined. • The pull-down menu View used to perform interactive viewing operations. • The pull-down menu Select used to perform interactive selection operations.
5-3.1.1 File Menu a) Open... File/Open... is used to import geometry data from a file. A file chooser is opened to select a CAD file with one of the following extensions:
When importing a CATIAV5 file, only the surfaces are imported. If a curve is not part of a surface, it is not imported.
b) Open IGES File/Open IGES is used to import CAD data stored in the standard IGES format. When names are defined for entities in the IGES file, AutoGrid5™ uses them for the new entities created in the repository.
FIGURE 4.3.1-1 IGES
5-4
file browser
AutoGrid5™
Import CAD
Geometry Definition
This option provides a powerful browser to scan the content of an IGES file and selectively import IGES entities recognized by AutoGrid5™. In the case of composite curves and surfaces, the browser allows to view each component defining the entity and to select them individually. Filters, reserved to expert users, allows to filter the data viewed by the browser. Each filter corresponds to a criterion defining if entities with the corresponding attribute set accordingly will be displayed in the browser/imported. It might be useful to uncheck the Blank Filter/Blanked item in order to import only the entities meant to be visible and get a clear view of the intended geometry. The same holds for the Entity Use Filter with only the geometry item checked. For the Subordinate Filter items, it might be useful to also have the both item checked if top-level entities cannot be translated, preventing the importation of their depending entities. The Filters default settings have the following items checked: all Blank Filter items, all Entity Use Filter items but the definition item, the Subordinate Filter independent and logical items, all Hierarchy Filter items. See the IGES reference manual for a complete understanding of all filter values. The list of available IGES entities that can be imported in AutoGrid5™ are presented in the table below. Entity Type Nr
Entity Type
100
Circular Arc
102
Composite Curve
104
Conic Arc
106
Copious Data (only curves and not points in IGG ™)
110
Line
112
Parametric Spline Curve
114
Parametric Spline Surface
116
Point
120
Surface of Revolution
122
Tabulated Cylinder
126
Rational B-spline Curve
128
Rational B-Spline Surface
130
Offset Curve (only uniform offset in IGG™)
140
Offset Surface
142
Curve On Parametric Surface
144
Trimmed Parametric Surface
158
Sphere
196
Spherical surface
c) Export... File/Export... is used to save all geometry curves and surfaces into an ASCII file with extension ".dat", using the IGG™ geometry file format, combined with a Parasolid™ ".xmt_txt" file.
AutoGrid5™
5-5
Geometry Definition
Import CAD
d) Close File/Close closes the current Import CAD session and opens a new one. All curves and surfaces are removed without been saved from the geometry repository.
e) Exit File/Exit is used to close the Import CAD window.
The geometry entities imported in the Import CAD window session are not deleted by this action. When reopening the Import CAD window, it shows still all entities.
5-3.1.2 Geometry Menu The Geometry menu provides simple and efficient tools to create, edit and delete points, curves and surfaces. Without having the complexity of CAD systems, it allows to create wire or surface models from scratch or to complement imported geometries. The menu allows to:
• create and edit basic and advanced curves and surfaces, • visualize and probe the geometry entities, • perform advanced geometry operations such as surface-surface intersection, offsetting...
including attraction features to points, curves and surfaces. The Geometry menu is inherited from the IGG™ technology. Please refer to the IGG™ User Manual.
5-3.1.3 Edit Menu a) Geometry Axis... Edit/Geometry Axis... is used to specify the rotation axis of the rotating parts of the configuration under definition by the user. By default, the z-axis is assumed to be this rotation axis. The rotation axis is defined by the position of the origin of the axis (X,Y,Z coordinates) and a direction vector (dx,dy,dz components). The modification is validated when pressing Apply.
5-3.1.4 View Menu a) View Solid View/View Solid is used to toggle the display of the solid triangulated representation for the selected surfaces. If a surface does not have any triangulated representation yet, one will be created with default settings.
5-6
AutoGrid5™
Import CAD
Geometry Definition
A triangulated representation with custom settings can be generated using Geometry/ View/Prepare View.
5-3.1.5 Select Menu a) Surfaces Select/Surfaces allows the user to select or unselect one or more visible surfaces with the mouse. When selected, the boundary curves of the selected surfaces appear highlighted in yellow (default) else they appear in blue. Surface selection is possible by simple positioning of the mouse over the surface. When several surfaces are stacked on top of each other, AutoGrid5™ provides a way to sweep through the surfaces before selecting the desired one. The following prompt appears when selecting this option:
Subsequent operations are done with the mouse in the graphics area:
• Move the mouse to a surface to select (unselect). The surface is ready for selection (unselection) when it becomes highlighted in blue.
• Left-click to select (or unselect) the surface. The surface changes its highlight to reflect its new selection status.
• It is possible to select several surfaces at once by defining a selection rectangle. This rectangle can be specified by pressing the left mouse button without releasing it and dragging the mouse. Releasing the left button will select all the surfaces totally included in this rectangle.
• When several surfaces are stacked on top of each other, in the direction of the user’s eyes, AutoGrid5™ takes by default the closest surface to the user. The user can sweep through the surfaces by middle-clicking the mouse, until the desired surface is highlighted. Leftclick then allows to select the highlighted surface.
• Pressing the right button or terminates the selection process.
