Tut 11

Tutorial 11.
Using Dynamic Meshes
Introduction
This tutorial provides information for performing basic dynamic mesh calculations. In
addition to combining the basic mesh-motion schemes, this tutorial will introduce rigid-
body motion of a cell zone. This is useful for a multitude of realistic cases with moving
meshes.
In this tutorial you will learn how to:
• Use the dynamic mesh capability of FLUENT to solve a simple flow-driven rigid-
body motion problem.
• Set boundary conditions for internal flow.
• Use a compiled user-defined function (UDF) to specify flow-driven rigid-body. mo-

tion
• Calculate a solution using the segregated solver.
Prerequisites
This tutorial assumes that you are familiar with the menu structure in FLUENT and that
you have completed Tutorial 1. Some steps in the setup and solution procedure will not
be shown explicitly.
Problem Description
The problem to be considered is shown schematically in Figure 11.1. A 2D axisymmetric
valve geometry is used, consisting of a pressurized cavity on the left, driving the motion
of a poppet that toggles the flow to the circumferential pressure outlets. A spring force
is also acting on the poppet. In this case the transient closure of the valve is studied.

c Fluent Inc. January 11, 2005 11-1
pressure outlets
mass
flow
inlet
moving
poppet
Figure 11.1: Problem Specification
Setup and Solution

Preparation
1. Download dynamic_mesh.zip from the Fluent Inc. User Services Center or copy
it from the FLUENT documentation CD to your working directory (as described in
Tutorial 1).
2. Unzip dynamic_mesh.zip.
valve.msh and valve.c can be found in the /dynamic mesh folder created after
unzipping the file.
A user-defined function will be used to define the rigid-body motion of the poppet
in the valve geometry. This function has already been written (valve.c). You will
only need to compile it within FLUENT.
3. Start the 2D version of FLUENT.
11-2
c Fluent Inc. January 11, 2005
Step 1: Grid
1. Read the grid file valve.msh.
File −→ Read −→Case...
2. Check the grid.

Grid −→Check
Note: You should always make sure that the cell minimum volume is not negative,
since FLUENT cannot begin a calculation if this is the case.
3. Scale the grid.

Grid −→Scale...
(a) Under Unit Conversion, select in from the drop-down list to complete the phrase
Grid Was Created In in (inches).
(b) Click Scale to scale the grid.
(c) Click Change Length Units to set inches as the working units for length, and
then close the panel.

4. Display the grid (Figure 11.2).

Display −→Grid...
Grid
FLUENT 6.2 (2d, segregated, lam)
Figure 11.2: Initial Grid for the Valve
11-4
Step 2: Units
1. For convenience, define new units for pressure and mass flow.
In the problem description, pressure, length, and mass flow are specified in psi, in,
and gpm, respectively. While the units for length were switched while scaling the
grid in the previous step, psi and gpm are not the default units for pressure and
mass flow.
Define −→Units...
(a) Select pressure under Quantities, and psi under Units.

(b) Select mass-flow under Quantities, and click New...
The Define Unit panel will appear.
i. Enter gpm under Unit.

ii. Enter 0.0536265 under Factor.
iii. Click OK.

Step 3: Models
1. Enable an axisymmetric time-dependent calculation.
Define −→ Models −→Solver...
(a) Under Space, select Axisymmetric.

(b) Select Unsteady under Time.
(c) Keep the default Unsteady Formulation option of 1st-Order Implicit.
Dynamic mesh simulations currently work only with first-order time ad-
! vancement.
(d) Click OK.
11-6
2. Turn on the standard k- turbulence model.

Define −→ Models −→Viscous...
(a) Select k-epsilon as the Model, and retain the default setting of Standard under
k-epsilon Model.
(b) Click OK.

Step 4: Materials
You will create a new material called oil.
Define −→Materials...
1. In the Name field, enter oil.
2. Specify 850 for the Density.
3. Specify 0.17 for the Viscosity.
4. Click Change/Create.
5. Click No when prompted to overwrite air.
11-8
Step 5: Operating Conditions

Set the operating pressure to 0 psi.
Define −→Operating Conditions...
For this problem, you will work with absolute pressures.

Step 6: Boundary Conditions

Dynamic mesh motion and all related parameters are specified using the items in the
Define/Dynamic Mesh submenu, not through the Boundary Conditions panel. You will set
these conditions in the next step.
Define −→Boundary Conditions...
1. Set the conditions for the mass flow inlet (inlet) as shown in the following figure.
2. Click OK.
11-10
3. Set the conditions for the exit boundary (outlet) as shown in the following figure.
4. Set the conditions for the fluid zone, def zone.
5. Select oil as the Material Name from the drop-down list, and keep the default Motion
Type as Stationary.
This replaces air with oil as a working media.
6. Repeat this procedure for the other two fluid zones, inlet zone and outlet zone.

Step 7: Grid Interfaces

In this step, you will create a non-conformal grid interface between the deforming walls
corresponding to the radial boundary of the pressure outlets, and the deforming wall cor-
responding to the radial boundary of the deforming fluid zone next to the poppet.
Define −→Grid Interfaces...
1. Select ext intf in the Interface Zone 1 list.

Note that when one interface zone is smaller than the other, it is recommended that
you choose the smaller zone as Interface Zone 1.
2. Select int int in the Interface Zone 2 list.
3. Enter the name if under Grid Interface.
4. Click Create.
Note: In the process of creating the grid interface, FLUENT creates two new wall
boundary zones: wall-22 and wall-23. You will not be able to display these
walls.
wall-22 is the non-overlapping region of the ext intf zone that results from
the intersection of the ext intf and int int boundary zones, and is listed un-
der Boundary Zone 1 in the Grid Interfaces panel.
wall-23 is the non-overlapping region of the int int zone that results from the
intersection of the two interface zones, and is listed under Boundary Zone 2 in
the Grid Interfaces panel.
11-12
Note that in general, you will need to set boundary conditions for these new wall
zones, when they are not empty. In this case, default settings are used.
Step 8: Mesh Motion

1. Select and compile the user-defined function (UDF).
Define −→ User-Defined −→ Functions −→Compiled...
(a) Under Source Files, click Add...

A Select File panel will open.
(b) In the Select File panel, select the source code valve.c, and click OK.
(c) In the Compiled UDFs panel, click Build.
The UDF has already been defined, but it needs to be compiled within FLUENT
before it can be used in the solver. Here you will create a library with the
default name of libudf in your working directory. If you would like to use a
different name, you can enter it in the Library Name field. Note that in this
case you need to make sure that you will open the correct library in the next
step.
(d) Click OK in the dialog box that will appear.
(e) Click Load to load the UDF library you just compiled.
Once the UDF is built and loaded, it is now available to hook to your model. Its
name will appear as valve::libudf and may be selected in drop-down lists of various
panels.
2. Hook the reader and writer udf.

Define −→ User-Defined −→Function Hooks...

(a) Select reader::libudf in the drop-down list next to Read Data.

(b) Select writer::libudf in the drop-down list next to Write Data.
These two functions will read/write the position of C.G. and velocity in the X
direction to the data file. The location of C.G. and the velocity are necessary
for restarting a case. When starting from an intermediate case and data file,
FLUENT needs to know the location of C.G. and velocity, which are the initial
conditions for the motion calculation. Those values are saved in the data file
using the writer UDF and will be read in using the reader UDF when reading
the data file.
(c) Click OK to close the panel.
11-14
3. Activate dynamic mesh motion and specify the associated parameters.

Define −→ Dynamic Mesh −→Parameters...
(a) Under Models, select Dynamic Mesh.

See Chapter 10 of the User’s Guide for more information the available models
for moving and deforming zones.
(b) Under Mesh Methods, select Smoothing and Remeshing.
FLUENT will automatically flag the existing mesh zones for use of the different
dynamic mesh methods where applicable.
(c) Set the parameters under Smoothing as follows:
i. Keep the default specification of 1 for the Spring Constant Factor.
ii. Specify 0.7 for the Boundary Node Relaxation.
iii. Keep the default specification of 0.001 for the Convergence Tolerance.
iv. Specify 50 for the Number of Iterations.

(d) Set the parameters under Remeshing as follows:
i. Under Options, be sure that the Must Improve Skewness option is selected.
ii. Specify other parameters as shown the following table:
Parameter Value
Minimum Length Scale 2.0e-5
Maximum Length Scale 0.007
Maximum Cell Skewness 0.7
Size Remesh Interval 1
If a cell exceeds these limits, the cell is marked for remeshing. Therefore,
you will always need to specify problem-specific values under Remeshing
Parameters.
(e) Click OK.
4. Specify the motion of the poppet, the adjacent walls, and the fluid region left of
the poppet.
The poppet motion and the motion of the deforming wall side-wall-3 are specified by
means of the UDF valve.
Define −→ Dynamic Mesh −→Zones...
11-16
(a) Specify the motion of the poppet.
i. In the Zone Names drop-down list, select poppet.

ii. Under Type, keep the default selection of Rigid Body.
iii. Under Motion Attributes, select valve::libudf in the Motion UDF/Profile
drop-down list to hook the UDF to your model.
iv. Keep the default values of (0, 0) m for Center of Gravity Location, and 0
for Center of Gravity Orientation.
FLUENT will automatically update the position of the CG based on the
input you gave for the motion.
v. Click the Meshing Options tab.
vi. Specify a value of 0.005 for Cell Height.
vii. Click Create.

(b) Specify the motion of the deforming axis (def axis).
i. In the Zone Names drop-down list, select def axis.

ii. Under Type, select Deforming.
The panel will expand to show the inputs for a deforming zone.
iii. Click the Geometry Definition tab.
iv. In the Definition drop-down list, select plane.
The panel will expand again to show the inputs for a planar geometry.
v. Under Point on Plane, enter 0, 0.
vi. Under Plane Normal, enter 0, 1.
vii. Click the Meshing Options tab.
viii. Under Methods, keep the default selections of Smoothing and Remeshing.
ix. Specify a value of 0.0045 for Minimum Length Scale and a value of 0.0055
for Maximum Length Scale.
x. Keep the default value of 1 for Maximum Skewness.
xi. Click Create.
11-18
(c) Specify the motion of the deforming wall corresponding to the radial boundary
of the deforming fluid zone next to the poppet (int int).
i. In the Zone Names drop-down list, select int int.
ii. Under Type, keep the previous selection of Deforming.
iii. Click the Geometry Definition tab.
iv. In the Definition drop-down list, select plane.
The panel will expand again to show the inputs for a planar geometry.
v. Under Point on Plane, enter 0, 0.22625.
vi. Under Plane Normal, keep the previous setting of 0, 1.
vii. Click the Meshing Options tab.
viii. Under Methods, be sure that Smoothing and Remeshing are selected, and
keep the previous settings for Maximum Skewness to value of 1.
ix. Specify a value of 0.0045 for Minimum Length Scale and a value of 0.0055
for Maximum Length Scale.
x. Click Create.
In many MDM problems, you may want to preview the mesh motion before proceed-
ing any further. In this problem, the mesh motion is driven by the pressure exerted
by the fluid on the poppet and acting against the inertia of the poppet and the force
of a preloaded spring attached to it. Hence, for this problem, mesh motion in the
absence of a flow field solution is meaningless, and you will not use this feature
here.

Step 9: Solution
1. Set the solution parameters.
Solve −→ Controls −→Solution...
(a) Keep all default discretization schemes and values for under-relaxation factors.
This problem has been found to converge satisfactorily with these default set-
tings. Alternatively, you may want to try the PISO discretization scheme for
Pressure-Velocity Coupling in conjunction with higher under-relaxation factors
in order to reduce the overall CPU time needed for this simulation.
(b) Click OK.
2. Enable the plotting of residuals during the calculation.

Solve −→ Monitors −→Residual...
3. Request that case and data files are automatically saved every 10 time steps.
File −→ Write −→Autosave...
11-20
(a) Set the Autosave Case File Frequency and Autosave Data File Frequency to 10.
To retain all files, keep the Overwrite Existing Files inactive.
(b) In the Filename field, enter valve.
When FLUENT saves a file, it will append the time step value to the file name
prefix (valve). The standard extensions (.cas and .dat) will also be ap-
pended.
(c) Click OK.
4. Initialize the solution.

You will initialize the flow field at this point in order to be able to display contours
and vectors that you will use to define animations.
Solve −→ Initialize −→Initialize...

(a) Set Gauge Pressure to 80 psi.

(b) Set Axial Velocity to 3.097237 m/s.
(c) Set Turbulence Kinetic Energy to 0.1438932.
(d) Set Turbulence Dissipation Rate to 16.8147.
(e) Click Init.
5. Create animation sequences for the static pressure contour plots and velocity vectors
plots in the valve.
You will use FLUENT’s solution animation feature to save contour plots of temper-
ature every 5 time steps. After the calculation is complete, you will use the solution
animation playback feature to view the animated temperature plots over time.
Solve −→ Animate −→Define...
(a) Increase the number of Animation Sequences to 2.

(b) Under Name, enter pressure for the first animation, and vv for the second
one.
(c) Under Every, increase the number to 5 for both sequences.
The default value of 1 instructs FLUENT to update the animation sequence at
every time step. For this case, this would generate a large number of files.
(d) In the When drop-down list, select Time Step.
11-22
(e) Define the animation sequence for pressure.

i. Click Define... on the line for pressure to set the parameters for the
sequence.
The Animation Sequence panel will open.
ii. Under Storage Type, keep the default selection of Metafile.

Note: If you want to store the plots in a directory other than your working
directory, enter the directory path in the Storage Directory field. If
this field is blank (the default), the files will be saved in your working
directory (i.e., the directory where you started FLUENT).
iii. Increase the Window number to 1 and click Set.
Graphics window number 1 will open.
iv. Under Display Type, select Contours.
The Contours panel will open.

A. Under Options, turn on Filled.

B. In the Contours of drop-down lists, select Pressure... and Static Pres-
sure.
C. Click Display.
8.00e+01
7.67e+01
7.35e+01
7.02e+01
6.69e+01
6.37e+01
6.04e+01
5.71e+01
5.39e+01
5.06e+01
4.74e+01
4.41e+01
4.08e+01
3.76e+01
3.43e+01
3.10e+01
2.78e+01
2.45e+01
2.12e+01
1.80e+01
1.47e+01
Contours of Static Pressure (psi) (Time=0.0000e+00)

FLUENT 6.2 (axi, segregated, dynamesh, ske, unsteady)
Figure 11.3: Contours of Static Pressure at t = 0 s
11-24
v. Click OK in the Animation Sequence panel.

The Animation Sequence panel will close, and the checkbox in the Active
column next to pressure in the Solution Animation panel will become se-
lected.
(f) Define the animation sequence for the velocity vectors.
i. Click Define... on the line for vv to set the parameters for the sequence.
The Animation Sequence panel will open.
ii. Under Storage Type, keep the default selection of Metafile.
iii. Increase the Window number to 2 and click Set.
Graphics window number 2 will open.
iv. Under Display Type, select Vectors.
The Vectors panel will open.
v. Click Display in the Vectors panel.

vi. Click OK in the Animation Sequence panel.
The Animation Sequence panel will close, and the checkbox in the Active
column next to vv in the Solution Animation panel will become selected.

3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
3.10e+00
Velocity Vectors Colored By Velocity Magnitude (m/s) (Time=0.0000e+00)

Figure 11.4: Vectors of Velocity at t = 0 s
vii. Click OK in the Solution Animation panel.
6. Set the time step parameters for the calculation.

Solve −→Iterate...
(a) Set the Time Step Size to 2e-6 s.
(b) Increase the Max Iterations per Time Step to 40.
In the accurate solution of a real-life time-dependent CFD problem, it is impor-
tant to make sure that the solution converges at every time step to within the
desired accuracy. Here the first few time steps will only come to a reasonably
converged solution.
(c) Click Apply.
This will save the time step size to the case file (the next time a case file is
saved).
11-26
7. Save the initial case and data files (valve.cas and valve.dat).
File −→ Write −→Case & Data...
8. Request 80 time steps.

Solve −→Iterate...
Extra: If you decide to read in the case file that is provided for this tutorial on the
documentation CD, you will need to compile the UDF associated with this tutorial
in your working directory. This is necessary because FLUENT will expect to find
the correct UDF libraries in your working directory when reading the case file.
The UDF (valve.c) that is provided can be edited and customized by changing the
parameters as required for your case. In this tutorial, the values necessary for this
case were preset in the source code. These values may be modified to best suit your
model.

Step 10: Postprocessing

1. Inspect the solution at the final time step.
(a) Inspect the contours of static pressure in the valve (Figure 11.5).
The negative absolute pressure indicates cavitating flow.
See Chapter 24.6.4 of the User’s Guide for details about the cavitation model.
8.17e+02
7.60e+02
7.04e+02
6.47e+02
5.90e+02
5.33e+02
4.77e+02
4.20e+02
3.63e+02
3.07e+02
2.50e+02
1.93e+02
1.36e+02
7.97e+01
2.29e+01
-3.38e+01
-9.05e+01
-1.47e+02
-2.04e+02
-2.61e+02
-3.17e+02
Contours of Static Pressure (psi) (Time=1.6000e-04)

Figure 11.5: Contours of Static Pressure After 80 Time Steps
(b) Inspect the velocity vectors in the valve (Figure 11.6).
2. Optionally, inspect the solution at different intermediate time steps.

(a) Read in the corresponding case and data files (valve.cas and valve.dat).
File −→ Read −→Case & Data...
(b) Display the desired contours and vectors.
11-28
7.77e+01
7.38e+01
6.99e+01
6.60e+01
6.21e+01
5.83e+01
5.44e+01
5.05e+01
4.66e+01
4.28e+01
3.89e+01
3.50e+01
3.11e+01
2.73e+01
2.34e+01
1.95e+01
1.56e+01
1.18e+01
7.88e+00
4.00e+00
1.23e-01
Velocity Vectors Colored By Velocity Magnitude (m/s) (Time=1.6000e-04)

Figure 11.6: Velocity Vectors After 80 Time Steps
3. Play back the animation of the pressure contours.

Solve −→ Animate −→Playback...
(a) In the Sequences list, select pressure.

The playback control buttons will become active.

(b) Set the slider bar above Replay Speed about halfway in between Slow and Fast.
(c) Keep the default settings in the rest of the panel and click the play button
(the second from the right in the group of buttons under Playback).
See Tutorial 4 and Section 26.20 of the User’s Guide for additional information
on animating the solution.
4. Play back the animation of the velocity vectors.

Solve −→ Animate −→Playback...
(a) In the Sequences list, select vv.
(b) Keep the default settings in the rest of the panel and click the play button.
Summary
In this tutorial you learned how to use the dynamic mesh feature of FLUENT to simulate
the rigid-body motion of a valve poppet in a flow field, driven by the flow-generated
forces, and spring and inertial forces, by means of a user defined function (UDF).
11-30

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Tutorial 11.

Using Dynamic Meshes

• Set boundary conditions for internal flow.

• Use a compiled user-defined function (UDF) to specify flow-driven rigid-body. mo-

• Calculate a solution using the segregated solver.

Figure 11.1: Problem Specification

Setup and Solution

3. Start the 2D version of FLUENT.

2. Check the grid.

3. Scale the grid.

4. Display the grid (Figure 11.2).

Figure 11.2: Initial Grid for the Valve

(a) Select pressure under Quantities, and psi under Units.

i. Enter gpm under Unit.

(a) Under Space, select Axisymmetric.

2. Turn on the standard k- turbulence model.

1. In the Name field, enter oil.

2. Specify 850 for the Density.

3. Specify 0.17 for the Viscosity.

5. Click No when prompted to overwrite air.

Step 5: Operating Conditions

For this problem, you will work with absolute pressures.

Step 6: Boundary Conditions

4. Set the conditions for the fluid zone, def zone.

Step 7: Grid Interfaces

1. Select ext intf in the Interface Zone 1 list.

Step 8: Mesh Motion

(a) Under Source Files, click Add...

2. Hook the reader and writer udf.

(a) Select reader::libudf in the drop-down list next to Read Data.

3. Activate dynamic mesh motion and specify the associated parameters.

(a) Under Models, select Dynamic Mesh.

(d) Set the parameters under Remeshing as follows:

(a) Specify the motion of the poppet.

i. In the Zone Names drop-down list, select poppet.

(b) Specify the motion of the deforming axis (def axis).

i. In the Zone Names drop-down list, select def axis.

2. Enable the plotting of residuals during the calculation.

4. Initialize the solution.

(a) Set Gauge Pressure to 80 psi.

(a) Increase the number of Animation Sequences to 2.

(e) Define the animation sequence for pressure.

ii. Under Storage Type, keep the default selection of Metafile.

A. Under Options, turn on Filled.

Contours of Static Pressure (psi) (Time=0.0000e+00)

Figure 11.3: Contours of Static Pressure at t = 0 s

v. Click OK in the Animation Sequence panel.

v. Click Display in the Vectors panel.

Velocity Vectors Colored By Velocity Magnitude (m/s) (Time=0.0000e+00)

Figure 11.4: Vectors of Velocity at t = 0 s

vii. Click OK in the Solution Animation panel.

6. Set the time step parameters for the calculation.

8. Request 80 time steps.

Step 10: Postprocessing

Contours of Static Pressure (psi) (Time=1.6000e-04)

Figure 11.5: Contours of Static Pressure After 80 Time Steps

(b) Inspect the velocity vectors in the valve (Figure 11.6).

2. Optionally, inspect the solution at different intermediate time steps.

Velocity Vectors Colored By Velocity Magnitude (m/s) (Time=1.6000e-04)

Figure 11.6: Velocity Vectors After 80 Time Steps

3. Play back the animation of the pressure contours.

(a) In the Sequences list, select pressure.

2. Turn on the standard k- turbulence model.