Whats New

What’s New in COSMOS/M 2.5

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Introduction
This chapter is intended to introduce the new COSMOS/M 2.5 release to the current users of version 2.0. Most of the enhancements introduced in this release are in direct response to the demands of customers.

After providing information related to documentation, licensing, and compatibility issues, this chapter lists the enhancements and new functionality introduced in GEOSTAR and the various analysis modules.

Improved electronic documentation is available with this release in PDF (Portable Document Format) files.

Documentation

Version 2.5 documentation for the Windows NT/95/98 platforms comes in eleven manuals:

1. COSMOS/M User’s Guide (Volume 1)

2. COSMOS/M Command Reference (Volume 2)

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3. COSMOS/M Basic System (Volume 3)

4. COSMOS/M Advanced Modules (Volume 4)

5. COSMOS/FFE Analysis Modules (Volume 5)

6. COSMOS/M CAD Interface User’s Guide

7. COSMOS/M CAD Interface Advanced Modules

8. COSMOS/HFS (High Frequency Simulator)

9. COSMOS/M FlowPlus 4.0 User’s Guide

10. COSMOS/M FlowPlus 4.0 Technical Reference

11. COSMOS/M FlowPlus 4.0 Tutorial

Volumes 1, 2, and 3 are used with the basic system configuration (GEOSTAR, STAR, and DSTAR). Volume 4 is used with advanced modules only (ASTAR, HSTAR, NSTAR, OPTSTAR, FATIGUE, FLOWSTAR, and ESTAR). Volume 5 documents COSMOS/FFE modules including, COSMOS/FFE Static, FFE Dynamic, and FFE Thermal.

Manuals 6 and 7 represent self-contained documentation for the COSMOS/M CAD Interface version 2.5 for Pro/ENGINEER, PT/Modeler, and other CAD systems. Manual 8 is the manual for the High Frequency Electromagnetic modules including COSMOS/HFS 2D, COSMOS/HFS 3D and COSMOS/CAVITY. FlowPlus 4.0 documentation comes in manuals 9, 10, and 11.

All manuals are provided in an electronic form. Printed copies can be ordered from SRAC.

Electronic Documentation

Improved Electronic documentation for version 2.5 is provided in Portable Document Format (PDF) files. These files are viewable in Windows NT/95/98 with Adobe’s Acrobat Reader 3.0 or later. The improvements in the electronic documentation include easier navigation, global searching, and quality printingYou can access the electronic documentation on the CD or you can copy the

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DOCS folder of the CD to your hard disk. The names of the electronic manuals are:

COSMOS/M User’s Guide

COSMOS/M Command Reference

COSMOS/M Basic FEA System

Advanced Dynamic Analysis (ASTAR) Module

Nonlinear Analysis (NSTAR) Module

Heat Transfer Analysis (HSTAR) Module

Low Frequency Electromagnetic Analysis (ESTAR) Module

Fluid Flow Analysis (FLOWSTAR) Module

Fatigue Analysis (FSTAR) Module

Optimization and Sensitivity (OPTSTAR) Module

COSMOS/FFE Static Analysis (FFE-STATIC) Module

COSMOS/FFE Thermal Analysis (FFE-THERMAL) Module

COSMOS/FFE Frequency Analysis (FFE-FREQUENCY) Module

COSMOS/M CAD Interface User Guide

COSMOS/M CAD Interface (ASTAR) Modules

COSMOS/M CAD Interface (NSTAR) Modules

COSMOS/M FlowPlus User’s Guide

COSMOS/M FlowPlus Technical Reference

COSMOS/M FlowPlus Tutorial

COSMOS/M 2.5 Licenses

The new COSMOS/M 2.5 release for Windows is based on the same licensing system as version 2.0. Some new features have been added. There are now three license options; (1) The stand-alone Sentinel-C device, (2) the new stand-alone Sentinel Super Pro key, and (3) the FLEXlm network system. All existing maintenance users would require a new 2.5 authorization code to work with the program. Therefore, depending on the type of your license, you must obtain a 2.5 “Validate.cos” file or a “License.inf” file before you can work with the COSMOSM 2.5. If a diskette with the new license file is not included with your package,

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please fill out the enclosed COSMOS/M 2.5 License Request form and fax it to the proper location indicated on the form to receive your license string.

Several enhancements have been made in the 2.5 licensing system to improve the overall security of the program.

1. A new stand-alone licensing device (Sentinel Super Pro from Rainbow Technology) is introduced. This device will replace the older Sentinel-C lock devices. The new and old devices work similarly. As a user, you will not see any difference.

2. It is now possible to program the Sentinel-C and all new Sentinel Super Pro keys for time restricted use. This feature is specially useful for situations involving program evaluation. Customers who have purchased the software, should see “Permanent License” next to the “Expiration Date” when checkitheir License Information. Temporary licenses will show the date of expirati

3. The FLEXlm network security option has been upgraded to Version 6.0i. A number of improvements have been introduced in the License ConfiguratioProgram to simplify the setup of the FLEXlm license and its combination wiother FLEXlm licenses.

4. License strings now include the user information and the list of authorized modules. Previously, the user name was read from the lock and could only changed by reprogramming the lock at SRAC. Dealers and program distribuwho sent devices licensed to them to end users, can now request a license that will display the end user’s name instead of the dealer name without senthe device to SRAC.

5. The appropriate License Manager programs have been included on the COSMOS/M 2.5 CD under “unix_lic” directory to allow network users to configure a Unix platform as the Network License Server for running the COSMOS/M 2.5 for Windows in a network environment including Unix andWindows platforms. Please refer to the Installation Section for more information.

6. FlowPlus Version 4.0 is introduced with a new independent licensing schemThus COSMOS/M license files Validate.cos and License.inf are no longer applicable to FlowPlus. A license file called brni.lic is required to run FlowPlus. This scheme supports both the Node Locked option for single users as wel

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the Floating Network License environment for multiple applications. For more information on how to obtain and configure the license for FlowPlus, please see Installing COSMOS/M chapter.

Compatibility

If you are a new user, you may skip this section.

COSMOS/M 2.5 can open databases created by COSMOS/M 2.0 and 1.75A. Once a database is opened by COSMOS/M 2.5, you will not be able to open it again in COSMOS/M 2.0. The program will issue a message before converting a database. Therefore, if for any reason you want to use the database with the 2.0 version of the program later on, you should make a backup copy before loading and converting it to 2.5 database.

COSMOS/M 2.5 Options

COSMOS/M 2.5 comes in the following options:

1. Full-fledged Option

In working with the full-fledged version of GEOSTAR and the CAD Interface, you can use the 64k (64,000), the 128k, or the 256k node/element version depending on your computer resources. These files for these versions are called geo64, geo128, and geo256, respectively. The databases created by the these versions are not compatible with one another. So you will not be able to use one of them to open a database that has been created by another. The session (.ses) and the (.gfm) files are, however, compatible and can be used to reconstruct the model created by one version in any other version.

2. Explorer Option

This option is designed to handle small to medium problems where the limit of nodes and elements for analysis is set to 5000. The pre- and post-processor for this option is the standard 64k version of GEOSTAR. The Explorer version is available for all analysis modules except: the COSMOS/FFE modules and COSMOS/HFS (High Frequency electromagnetic Simulators), and advanced Fluid Flow (FlowPlus).

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3. Limited Evaluation Option

This option is designed for evaluation purposes only and may only be used for this purpose. The limit on elements and nodes is set to 50. This option does not require any type of security arrangements. If you launch the 64k version of GEOSTAR without any security arrangements, you will be informed that the license check has failed and that you can proceed to use the program in the Evaluation mode. The analysis modules supported by the evaluation version include all analysis modules except COSMOS/FFE, COSMOS/HFS, ESTAR, FLOWSTAR, and FlowPlus.

In addition, certain limitations have been built into this option, such as deleting the database upon exiting the program, disabling the listing of any data or results in external files, and the suppression of creating session (SES) and neutral (GFM) files.

Database Utility and Translators

The Database Utility is a library of sub-programs in the C-language that enables you to read and write the COSMOS/M 2.5 database. The Database Utility and all translators are available as add-on options and can be used with the Full and the Explorer options.

The Database Utility is needed only in special cases where you want to create a live communication channel between COSMOS/M and your own programs.

Enhancements in Version 2.5

COSMOS/M 2.5 encompasses significant improvements in the capabilities and the overall quality of the COSMOS/M Finite Element System. New enhancements have been added to the various modules of the program, existing capabilities have been improved, and most of the reported errors have been fixed.

The major enhancements in this release include:

• The addition of new direct and iterative solvers (see Notes on New Solvers section in this chapter for details).

• The addition of a new fast contact algorithm in STAR.

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• Automatic calculation of mid-surface of layered shells.

• Improved part meshing (see Notes on Part Meshing Improvements section of this chapter for details).

• Addition of fluid pipe element to HSTAR (see the description of the FLUIDT element in chapter 4 of the User’s Guide for more details.

• Major FlowPlus enhancements (see the FlowPlus 4.0 Release Noteschapter in this booklet).

• Several enhancements in NSTAR (see NSTAR enhancements below

• Improved electronic documentation. The improvements include easienavigation, global search, and quality printing.

The enhancements in each model are detailed in the following sections:

GEOSTAR: Pre- and Post-processor

General

1. Spaces in a COSMOSM directory name or its full path name will be accepted.

2. Spaces in a problem (database) name, any input (e.g. .geo, or.igs files) or output file or their full paths will be accepted. When supplying a file name (or its full path) with any spaces to GEOSTAR, it has to be double quoted, otherwise the program treats a space as a separator between two arguments. For example, at a command prompt window:

GEOSTAR "database" "input file.geo"

cospro "data base" "input file.geo"

cospro "data base" "input file.geo"

or at the GEOSTAR > command line:

file,"d:\work\Drawing Files\input.geo",1,0,0,0;

or

cad_inp,4,"input file.igs";

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In any GEOSTAR command dialog box with a file name parameter, double quotes should also be used for a file name with spaces.

Utility and translator programs such as IGES_GEO, IGES_GS, GS_IGES, DXF_GS, GS_DXF, PRO2GEO have all been extended to accept file names with spaces, e.g.:

iges_geo /s /tm /el /i="input file.igs"

A database name with spaces written to the x.bat file without double quotes is accepted by the analysis modules such as PRE1, RENUM, STAR, STRESS, and FFESTAR.

3. GEOSTAR will now write 4 digits for the year in the session file, e.g. 11-01-1999 instead of 11-01-99.

4. The maximum number of material property sets is increased from 90 to 999, and the maximum number of contact surfaces is increased from 2000 to 20000.

5. Click on the grayed Close (x) button in the Main window of GEOSTAR will no longer cause the Main window to be closed. The Main window may only be closed by exiting or closing the whole GEOSTAR program.

6. Approximate model volume will be written to the master file (.mas) before linear static analysis is launched if a GAP element group has been defined.

7. GEOSTAR no longer checks security for FLOWPLUS. FLOWPLUS checks its own security.

8. The NDEL(el|pos) function now accepts node position “pos” greater than 10(but less than 21) if there are at least that many nodes in element “el”. Wh“pos” is more than 20 or the number of nodes in element “el”, an error messof "Node position out of range" will be prompted.

9. The HFLUXZ (step|nd) now returns the actual HFLUXZ result value of node “nd” at time step “step” instead of a constant 0. The HFLUXN (step|nd) returns the resultant value based on all HFLUXX, HLUXY and HFLUXZ instead of just HFLUX and HFLUXZ values.

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CAD Interface

1. A crash in CAD Interface caused by database names of length longer than 20 or 30 has been fixed. Database name length may be 79 characters long. The programs will complain and exit when a name is 80 or more characters long.

2. A problem with BEAMRESMAX with load case 0 causing unnecessary "Syntax error" and/or "Invalid Value" error messages has been fixed. Also, a problem of not writing commands in session file has been fixed.

3. The What next? command has been restored to display status and help information on next step.

Edit Menu

The VLLIST (Edit > List > Volumes or Geometry > Volumes > Editing > List) command that lists volumes with associated keypoints, curves and/or surfaces became very congested when reaching 4 or 5 digits. Extra spaces are inserted between columns to avoid this congestion.

Geometry Menu

1. The commands PHEXTR (Geometry > Polyhedra > Extrusion) and PHSWEEP (Geometry > Polyhedra > Sweeping) by a surface or region meshed with high order elements with “DMesh” flag on, will associate new nodes properly to geometrical entities at the end side of extrusion and swee

2. The CT command’s redefinition flag (1:redefine) now takes effect by redefinithe element size or number of elements on a shared curve with the new va

3. All the dialog boxes for the generation and resizing commands (in the Geometry menu) such as SFGEN, NDRESIZ and ELRESIZ will now refer to a Cartesian coordinate system (X,Y,Z) even if the current active coordinate system might be of other type.

Meshing Menu

1. A rare case of MA_SF (Meshing > Automesh > Parts) command’s failure to write the current command line input to the session file has been fixed.

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2. A bug in NMERGE (Meshing > Nodes > Merge) command was found to fail to update an element’s node list when one of its nodes (A) was merged to a n(B) which was in turn merged to another node (C). In Version 2.0, node B wlisted instead of node C. With the fix, node (C) will be listed for that elemenafter NMERGE.

3. Two optional parameters “Number of aspect ratio check iterations” (0=No check or 1 to 4) and “Jacobian check flag” (0=No check, 1=1_point, 2=4_points, 3=16_points, 4=29_points, and 5=at nodes) have been added MA_PART (Meshing > Auto_Mesh > Parts) command. Jacobian check will only take effect for high order elements (TETRA10).

4. A bug in NCOMPRESS (Meshing > Nodes > Compress) command which caused loss of temperature values for nodes has been fixed.

PropSets Menu

1. The dialog box for the EGROUP (PropSets > Element Group) command showed the description of TRUSS3D: 2D truss/spar element. This error hasbeen corrected.

2. A new element group type FLUIDT is added to EGROUP. It supports the new capability of thermal-fluid link sets with a source curve and target surfaces/regions in thermal analysis.

3. The material GLASS in COSMOS/M’s material library PICKMAT.LIB (PropSets > Pick Material Lib) is modified with a new description "SODA-LIME FLOAT-PLATE" and new values.

4. A new value (2: Viscoelastic) has been added to the parameter "Op5:Sprinbehavior" of EGROUP for SPRING element type.

LoadsBC Menu

Pressure loads applied by PEL (LoadsBC > Structural > Pressure > Define by Elements) command on BEAM3D elements with the directional flag 4 (normto face) were displayed with incorrect directions. This error has been fixed.

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Control Menu

1. The AREA (Control > Measure > Calculate Area) command is expanded to calculate: a) the area of a set of surfaces by their geometry, undeformed mesh, or deformed mesh, b) the area of a set of regions by their undeformed or deformed mesh; and c) the area of a polyhedron by its undeformed or deformed mesh.

2. When GEOSTAR reads a session file which contains IMAGESAV (Control > Devices > Device_File > Save Image File) command, it will not stop to prompt for selecting two corner points of a box and will assume the left top corner point and the right bottom point of the current window as the two corner points.

3. A bug in MASSPROP (Control > Measure > Find Mass Property) command for MASS elements has been fixed.

4. ESELPROP (Control > Select > Element by Property) command has been extended to include EC (Element Coordinate System) as the fourth property.

5. Polyhedron (PH) and part (PA) entities have been included in the Selection Entity of the SELREF (Control > Select > by Reference). A limitation still exists when selecting 4 noded elements generated by meshing a part/volume when the same ID is shared by a volume and a part.

Display Menu

1. ACTXYPOST (Display > XY_Plots > Activate Post-Proc) is fixed to correctly load nonlinear stress graph data for particular nodes specified by NL_NRESP at each time step (plotting step as well as graph step).

2. XYPTLIST (Display > XY_Plots > List Points) will list X values with 4 valid digits and Y values with 5 valid digits when the highest graph number is less than 6.

3. The Erase Screen (ERASE) command has been also added to the Display > View_Parameter > Erase Screen submenu. Previously, it was only in the Control > Miscellaneous submenu.

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Analysis Menu

1. Two new options have been added to the solver option in the A_STATIC (Analysis > Static > Static Analysis Options) command to give you a chance to select the new direct sparse solver or the new iterative PCG solver. "Solver option 0=sparse 1=skyline 2=Iterative (PCG)". The A_LIST (Analysis > List Analysis Option) command has been modified accordingly.

2. A new command PCG_OPTION (Analysis > Static > PCG Option) has been added to specify options for the iterative PCG solver.

3. A new parameter "Solution accuracy 0=OFF 1=ON" has been added to A_STATIC, and A_LIST has been modified accordingly.

4. A_LIST has been modified to include PCG options for STATIC option.

5. A new parameter "Solver option 0=sparse 1=skyline" has been added to A_BUCKLING (Analysis > Frequency/Buckling > Buckling Options) command (default to 0=sparse), A_LIST command will also show this option in the list.

6. A new parameter "Solver option 0=sparse 1=skyline" has been added to A_FREQUENCY (Analysis > Frequency/Buckling > Frequency Options) command (default to 0=sparse), A_LIST command will also show this option in the list.

7. A new parameter "Solver option 0=sparse 1=skyline" has been added to A_THERMAL command (for S and T options only, default is 0=sparse), A_LIST command will also show this option in the list.

8. A new parameter "Solver option 0=sparse 1=skyline" has been added to the A_NONLINEAR (Analysis > Nonlinear > NonL Analysis Options) command to give you a choice to use the old skyline direct solver or the new direct solver based on sparse matrix technology and advanced re-ordering techniques. The A_LIST command has been modified to list the active solver option.

9. A set of new commands FLINKDEF (Analysis > Heat_Transfer > Fluid-Thermal Link Def), FLINKDEL (Analysis > Heat_Transfer > Fluid-Thermal Link Del), FLINKLIST (Analysis > Heat_Transfer > Fluid-Thermal Link List), and FLINKPLOT (Analysis > Heat_Transfer > Fluid-Thermal

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Link Plot) have been added. Together, they support the new capability of thermal-fluid link sets with a source curve and target surfaces/regions in thermal analysis.

10. The dialog box for the EM_OUTPUT (Analysis > Electro_Magnetic > Output Options) command is modified to take non-negative integer value for the 2nd parameter and to show the prompt as "Post processing info flag 0=No N=steps". The command line will also show the modified prompt.

Results Menu

1. The ANIMATE (Results > Plot > Animate) command will use the current min to max value range set by the SETPLOT (Results > Setup > Color/Value Range) command. This would take effect in the animation of the current post plot in the active window.

2. The ANIMATE command sometimes shows two titles for each animation frame. When the two titles happen to be identical, the 2nd one will not be shown any more.

3. An extra optional parameter "Chart color" has been added for SETXYPLOT (Display > XY_Plot > Set Plot Parameter) and SETLSECPLOT (Result > Setup > Set Path Graphs) commands to allow users to change the color of X and Y axes and value texts in an XY plot or a line section plot.

4. SETPLOT (Results > Setup > Color/Value Range) command has been modified not to erase the screen before replotting the current post plot with new settings if the erase screen option has been turned off by SETERASE (Results > Setup > Set Clear Screen Options).

5. The command BEAMRESMAX (Results > Extremes > Beam End Force) now accepts 0 for Load case number or Time step number for calculating max/min values among all load cases or time steps.

6. The last 2 components listed in the ACTMAG (Results > Plot > Electromagnetic) dialog box have been changed from: JR_R: Resultant Current or Charge Density (Z,Real) JR_I: Resultant Current or Charge Density (Z,Img) to: JR_R: Resultant Current or Charge Density (Real) JR_I: Resultant Current or Charge Density (Img). The help topic has been also updated to include all components for S-Parameter analysis.

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7. Nonlinear stress plots ACTSTR (Results > Plot > Stress) and STRPLOT (Results > Plot > Stress > Contour/Vector Plot) are fixed for the case when both NLPLOT and NL_NRESP are issued before R_NONLINEAR.

8. The transformed values of reaction forces and moments in DISLIST (Results > List > Displacement/Response/Reaction, set 2 and 3) and DISPLOT (Results > Plot > Displacement/Response/Reaction > Contour/Vector Plot) relative to a cylindrical or a spherical coordinate system have been corrected.

Help Menu

1. The help for the CAD_INP command is corrected to show the same numeric values for CAD System option as the dialog box.

2. The help for the ACTXYPRE command is corrected not to show FCOEF as a component for Curve type 0:time/temp/BHC/MPC because FCOEF, FSIN, and FCOS are not yet supported by the ACTXYPRE and XYPLOT commands.

3. A new iges_config.pro file with the Iges_out_trim_xyz flag turned off has been provided for saving Pro/Engineer 20 models in the IGES format for COSMOS/M. Certain Pro/Engineer 20 models saved as IGES for COSMOS/M with the old IGES configuration were found to fail during meshing in GEOSTAR and the CAD Interface.

STAR: (Linear Static Analysis Module)

1. Adding a new Direct Sparse Matrix Solver. This new solver is based on sparse matrix technology and advanced reordering techniques. It improves the analysis speed by more than an order of magnitude without introducing any approximations in the result calculations. It will also reduce memory requirement significantly. The new solver can be used in conjunction with practically all STAR analysis options except sub-structuring and submodeling. See the Notes About Solvers section in this chapter.

2. Adding a new Iterative Solver. The iterative solver will enhance the solution speed of the program significantly and will make the solution of very large models (with several hundred thousands of degrees-of-freedom or more) a routine process on desktop computers. The iterative solver option supports all

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major limitations include in-plane loading, substructuring, and submodeling. See the Notes About Solvers section in this chapter and the PCG_Options command for details.

3. Adding a new contact algorithm. The following features are supported by the new contact algorithm:

• You may include parts that are not adequately supported on their owThe program takes care of this situation as long as the whole assembadequately supported and each part is adequately supported when coforces are included.

• The effect of friction due to contact can be considered.

• No limits are set on the size of problems or the number of contact/gaelements that can be defined.

• Contact analysis problems run much more efficiently with the new contact algorithm.

4. Automatic calculation of the mid-plane of composite shells is now performed. The program now automatically calculates the mid-surface of composite shell models if the default value of 1e6 is used for the distance from reference plane to the upper surface (r1). If a number other than the default is specified, it will be used to calculate the mid-surface.

5. The program now estimates the error in results when direct solvers (skyline or sparse) are used. The error is written in the output file.

DSTAR: (Frequency Analysis Module)

Adding a mode extraction routine powered by the new Direct Sparse Solver. This method improves the speed and efficiency of the eigenvalue and eigenmode extraction by more than an order of magnitude without sacrificing accuracy. Both frequency and buckling analyses use this new solver.

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ASTAR: (Linear Dynamic Response Analysis Module)

Most of the computing time is spent on mode and frequency extraction. ASTAR analysis is generally quite fast. Dynamic response analysis becomes more efficient with the improvements in the speed of extracting frequencies and mode shapes. The actual ASTAR analysis is generally quite fast.

HSTAR: (Thermal Analysis Module)

1. A new Direct Sparse Matrix Solver has been added. This new solver improves the analysis speed by more than an order of magnitude without introducing any approximations in the result calculations. It will also reduce memory requirement significantly. This new solver can be used in conjunction with practically all HSTAR analysis options.

2. A new 3D forced convection Hydraulic link element (FLUIDT) has been added. This element handles fluid flow through thermal solids with the ability to conduct heat within the fluid. The element accounts for the thermal interactions between the fluid and the solid and including the effects of convection and fluid mass transport. Refer to the FLUIDT section in chapter 4 of the User’s Guidfor more details. Verification problems TL11 and TL12 are available in the HSTAR section in the Advanced Modules Manual (volume 4).

3. Further improvements are introduced in the calculations of radiation view factors especially for axi-symmetric models and other special cases.

NSTAR: Nonlinear Analysis Module.

1. Eliminating the limit on the size of problems that can be analyzed. Also thelimit on the number of GAP elements, line-to-line, and surface-to-surface contact areas has been practically eliminated (limit is 20,000). This allows tgap/contact analysis of larger models that previously was not possible. Theincorporation of the new fast sparse solver is particularly significant in this respect.

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2. Addition of a linear viscoelastic material model for translational and/or rotational spring element. Please refer to the description of the Nonlinear SPRING element in chapter 4 of the User’s Guide

3. A new fast direct solver that uses sparse matrix technology and advanced ordering techniques has been selected as the default option to speed up thforce-stiffness solution. The old skyline solver is still available as an option.The solver is selected by the A_NONLINEAR command (Analysis > Nonline> NonL Analysis Options).

4. A new way for the definition of temperature versus time has been added. Ifnodal temperatures are associated with a time curve that has a value of zetime zero, the curve is assumed to prescribe relative temperatures (relativereference) instead of prescribing total temperatures. This assumption is maprovide ease of use for certain cases where each node requires a separaterelating total temperatures (see section 5-24 of the Advanced Modules-Nonlinear Analysis Module-NSTAR manual for more details).

5. The effect of thermal loading in the Displacement/Arc-Length control methois now included. In this option, the input temperatures are used as the loadpattern. The output load factor defines the temperature factor for the state odeformation (see section 5-4 of the Advanced Modules-Nonlinear Analysis Module-NSTAR manual for more details).

6. It is now possible to combine the Force Control and Displacement/Arc-LengControl methods. A combined analysis of parametric and non-parametric locan be performed in two ways:

• Using displacement control, and including both types of loads in the analysis, simultaneously.

• Starting with force control to find deformation under non-parametric loads (curve 1 should have zero values during this phase), then restawith either displacement or arc-length control and obtain the load facresponse due to parametric loads while other loads are kept constan

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Notes on Part Meshing Improvements

The quality of the mesh plays a key role in the accuracy of the results. COSMOS/M 2.5 incorporates two new checks for the quality of the generated elements when meshing parts with high order tetrahedral solid elements (i.e., TETRA10 elements). The two checks are:

• Aspect ratio check, and

• Jacobian check

Aspect Ratio Check

Numerical accuracy is best achieved by a mesh with uniform perfect tetrahedral elements whose edges are equal in length. For a general geometry, it is not possible to create a mesh of perfect tetrahedral elements. Due to small edges, curved geometry, thin features, and sharp corners, some of the generated elements can have some of their edges much longer than others. When the edges of an element become much different in length, the accuracy of the results deteriorates.

The aspect ratio of a perfect tetrahedral element is used as the basis for calculating aspect ratios of other elements. The aspect ratio of an element is defined as the ratio between the longest edge and the shortest normal dropped from a vertex to the opposite face normalized with respect to a perfect tetrahedral. By definition, the aspect ratio of a perfect tetrahedral element is 1.0. The aspect ratio check assumes straight edges connecting the four corner nodes.

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Use the MA_PART (Meshing > Auto_Mesh > Parts) command to turn on the aspect ratio check option and to set the number of aspect ratio check iterations.

Jacobian Check

Parabolic elements can map curved geometry much more accurately than linear elements of the same size. The mid-side nodes of the boundary edges of an element are placed on the actual geometry of the model. In extremely sharp or curved boundaries, placing the mid-side nodes on the actual geometry can result in generating distorted elements with edges crossing over each other. The Jacobian of extremely distorted elements can become negative. An element with a negative Jacobian causes the analysis program to stop.

Tetrahedral element with aspect ratio of 1.0

Tetrahedral element with relatively high aspect ratio

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In the course of calculating the element stiffness matrix, the program performs integration processes over the domain of the element. The integration process is simplified by evaluating the function of interest at prescribed locations inside the element. These locations are called Gaussian points. For the purpose of checking the quality of the parabolic tetrahedral elements (TETRA10 elements), COSMOS/M 2.5 gives you a choice to base the Jacobian check on 1, 4, 16, or 29 Gaussian points or at the element nodes.

The Jacobian ratio of a parabolic tetrahedral element, with all mid-side nodes located exactly at the middle of the straight edges, is 1.0. The Jacobian ratio increases as the curvatures of the edges increase. The Jacobian ratio at a point inside the element provides a measure of the degree of distortion of the element at that location. COSMOS/M 2.5 calculates the Jacobian ratio at the selected number of Gaussian points for each tetrahedral element. Based on stochastic studies it is generally seen that a Jacobian Ratio of forty or less is acceptable. COSMOS/M 2.5 adjusts the locations of the mid-side nodes of distorted elements automatically to make sure they pass the Jacobian check.

Use the MA_PART (Meshing > Auto_Mesh > Parts) command to set the number of points the program will use to perform the Jacobian check on the generated elements.

✍ The aspect ration and Jacobian checks are not performed by default. It is rec-ommended to activate both checks before meshing complex models with TETRA10 elements. The Jacobian check is not defined for TETRA4 and TETRA4R elements.

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Notes About Solvers

The finite element method leads to a system of equations that must be solved simultaneously. A complex model can generate a very large system of equations. Each equation represents an unknown quantity that we seek to solve for. Each unknown quantity is also referred to as a degree of freedom (DOF). For example, when solving a static problem, displacements at the nodes are the primary unknowns. For solid models, each node has 3 DOF, for shell models, each node has 6 DOF. A solid model with 10,000 unrestrained nodes, will have 30,000 (10,000 X 3) DOF. Traditionally, solving a large system of simultaneous equations requires a long time and large computer resources.

Structural Research gives utmost attention to providing its software users with the cutting edge solver technology in terms of speed and the use of computer resources.

Solvers can be broadly classified into two main categories: direct and iterative. This release includes a new direct solver and a new iterative solver.

New Direct Sparse Solver

The new direct solver replaces the old direct solver for all types of analyses. The old direct solver provided with earlier versions of COSMOS/M is based on an older logic called the sky-line.

The new direct solver exploits new advanced sparse matrix technology and re-ordering techniques to save time and computer resources. On the average, the new solver is about 15 times faster and it uses about 1/3 of the memory required by the old solver. The savings can be much higher for large problems and shell problems.The new direct sparse solver is particularly useful where iterative methods take longer to converge.

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Assembly problems containing parts made of materials with widely different material properties can produce ill-conditioned matrices. Ill-conditioned matrices can also result from gap/contact problems, especially when friction is considered. The efficiency of iterative methods reduces considerably with ill-conditioned matrices. The new Direct Sparse solver is recommended in such cases.

New Iterative (PCG) Solver

The new iterative solver is included as an alternative to the FFE solver provided with earlier versions of COSMOS/M. The New iterative (PCG) solver exploits new technology to save time and computer resources for very large problems (problems with over 200,000 DOF).

The major advantage of the new iterative (PCG) solver is that it works with all elements and element options. For example, FFE solvers do not support composite elements like SHELL3L, SHELL4L, SOLIDL, and many other elements and element grouoptions. The new iterative (PCG) solver supports all elements anelement group’s options.

✍ The new iterative (PCG) solver cannot be used to run static analysis problems that include sub-structuring, sub-modeling, or the in-plane effect option.

Choosing a Solver

Generally you can use any of the available solvers for a particultype of analysis. Different solvers should give similar results for thsame problem.The following information summarizes the solveroptions for different types of analyses.

Static Problems

There are 4 solvers for static problems. These solvers are:

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• The old direct solver based on the sky-line techniques.

• New: The new direct sparse solver based on sparse matrix technology and advanced re-ordering techniques.

• The FFE solver.

• New: The new iterative (PCG) solver.

The new PCG_OPTIONS command (Analysis > Static > PCG_Options) allows you to set the proper options to run a problem using the new PCG solver.

Use the A_FFESTATIC command (Analysis > Static > FFE Static Options) prior to running static analysis to select the FFE solver. The other options aselected by the A_STATIC (Analysis > Static > Static Analysis Options) command.

Guidelines on selecting a static analysis solver:

Here are some guidelines on selecting the appropriate solver:

• Use the New Iterative (PCG) solver for large problems (200,0DOF or more). See the on-line help for the PCG_OPTIONS command.

• Use the FFE solver or the Direct Sparse solver for small and medium problems (problems with up to 200,000 DOF).

• If your model has elements or options not supported by the Fsolver, use the new iterative (PCG) solver or the Direct Sparse solver.

• Use the Skyline solver for submodeling and substructuring.

• Use the Direct Sparse solver for problems with contact, especially when you turn on the friction effects. However, if the problem is too large, you may have to use the Iterative PCG solver.

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• Use the Direct Sparse solver when solving problems with widevarying material properties.

Frequency Problems

There are 3 solvers for frequency problems. These solvers are:

• Mode extraction powered by the skyline direct solver.

• The FFE solver.

• New: Mode extraction powered by the new sparse direct solver based on sparse matrix technology and advanced re-ordering techniques.

Use the A_FFEFREQ command (Analysis > Frequency/Buckling > FFE Frequency Options) prior to running frequency analysis to select the FFE solver. The other optionsare selected by the A_FREQUENCY command (Analysis > Frequency/Buckling > Frequency Analysis Options).

Guidelines on selecting a frequency analysis solver:


• Choose any of the 3 solvers for small problems.• Choose the Direct Sparse solver or the FFE solver for mediu

problems (problems with 100,000 to 200,000 DOF).

• Use the FFE solver for large problems (over 200,000 DOF).• Use the mode extraction routine powered by the FFE solver i

your model is not adequately restrained (rigid body modes).

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• Use the mode extraction routine powered by the Direct Sparssolver if you want to consider the effect of loading on the natural frequencies.

• Use the mode extraction routine powered by the Direct Sparssolver when solving problems with widely varying material properties.

Buckling Problems

There are 2 solvers available for extracting buckling load factors:

• New: Buckling load factor extraction routine powered by the Direct Sparse solver.

• Buckling load factor extraction routine powered by the Direct Skyline solver.

Use the A_BUCKLING command (Analysis > Frequency/Buckling > Buckling Analysis Options) to select the desired solver.

Guidelines on selecting a buckling analysis solver:


• Choose any of the two solvers for small problems.

• Choose the Direct Sparse solver for large problems.• No FFE solver is available for buckling analysis.

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Thermal Problems

There are 3 solvers for thermal problems. These solvers are:

• The Skyline direct solver based on the skyline techniques.

• New: The new direct sparse solver based on sparse matrix technology and advanced re-ordering techniques.

• The FFE solver.

Use the A_FFETHERMAL command (Analysis > Heat Transfer > FFE Thermal Options) prior to running thermal analysis to select the FFE solverThe other options are selected by the A_THERMAL command (Analysis > Heat Transfer > Thermal Analysis Options).

Guidelines on selecting a thermal analysis solver:


• Use the FFE solver or the Direct Sparse solver for small and medium problems (up to 200,000 DOF). There are 3 solvers for thermal problems, the new Direct Sparse solver, the old Skyldirect solver and the old FFE solver. Thermal problems have onDOF per node and hence their solution is usually much fastethan structural problems of the same number of nodes.

• Use the Direct Sparse solver when solving assemblies of parwith widely different material properties.

• Use the FFE solver for large problems.

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What’s New in FlowPlus 4.0

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Introduction

In version 4.0 of FlowPlus, we added quite a bit of new functionality to the code. We moved a couple of windows to more logical locations, and redesigned several of the windows to be more accessible and easier to use. This new version of FlowPlus is fully compatible with COSMOS/M 2.5.

To ensure your continued productivity with FlowPlus, we have provided for upward compatibility for your 3.0 control files (.ctl files) and the FlowPlus result files (.res files). The new functions and features in FlowPlus 4.0 are as follows:

• Internal fans/pumps

• Fan/Pump curve boundary condition

• Energy balance improvements

• Interpolation of FlowPlus results to other meshes

• Mapping of FlowPlus results as boundary conditions to subsequent analyses

• Total pressure boundary condition

• Read GEOSTAR boundary conditions in local coordinate systems

• Multi-processor parallelization

• Compressible Liquid capability added (FlowPlus Advanced only)

• Global re-initialization of field variables

• Check valve regions

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• Post-process turbulence intensity in CFDisplay

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• Added variable in-W-C units system

• Progress bar

• Automated 0 iteration run

• Save-All-As function

• File browser for review functions

• New combined restart on Analyze window

• New data entry tables

• New CFDisplay with better part typing

Description of New Features

An explanation of each item and how to use it follows:

Internal fans/pumps

In previous versions of FlowPlus, there was no way to represent the boost of momentum caused by a fan or pump internal to the solution domain. For example, if you were modeling an electronic enclosure which contained a power supply with its own cooling fan, there was no way to include that cooling fan in the model. With FlowPlus 4.0, you can now include such a fan inside the problem domain. This internal fan or pump is identified using the MP number in GEOSTAR, similar to a distributed resistance area. In GEOSTAR, you would assign a unique MP to the fan or pump region.

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From the Fluid Properties window in FlowPlus, click on Extended Attributes,
and select Internal Fan/Pump. Then, click on the Edit button, bringing up the Internal Fan/Pump Properties window.

On this dialog, choose the Fan Flow Direction either in the Global coordinate system (0) or the specified Local Coordinate System. If the Fan Flow Direction is not aligned with the global coordinate system, you need to create a local coordinate system in GEOSTAR that is aligned with the fan flow direction, and

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specify its ID (assigned in GEOSTAR) in the Local Coordinate System

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field. Then, specify the Flow Rate and choose the Units (e.g., CFM) for this flow rate, and the Fan Speed in RPM.

Fan/Pump curve boundary conditions

This feature allows the user to input a fan or pump curve (head-capacity curve) as a boundary condition, and let FlowPlus determine the operating point of the system on that curve. Multiple fan curves are permitted in a model.

To mark a boundary in GEOSTAR as having a fan curve, select Loads/BC_E_Magnetic_Mag_Potential from the GEOSTAR main menu. Enter a value which will be the unique Fan Curve ID number that will be used later in FlowPlus. For example to designate that a certain group of nodes on the boundary are to have fan curve 1, you would assign the value of 1 as the Magnetic Potential to those nodes. Each fan curve must have a unique fan curve ID (Magnetic Potential) assigned to it.

The values of the fan curve are then specified in FlowPlus under Options_Boundary Conditions_Fan Curves in the following dialog:

First, click on the Add button to create the Fan Curve ID (Magnetic Potential value from GEOSTAR). Then, click on the Insert Before or Insert After buttons to add editable fields. Select the units of Flow Rate and

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Pressure, and enter the values. Click on the Plot button to check the head/capacity curve.

The points can be entered either in flow rate ascending or descending order, and to specify that the fan is directing flow out of the domain (a “puller” fan), usenegative values for the flow rates and pressures.

Energy balance improvements

For certain heat transfer problems, previous versions of FlowPlus have haddifficulty obtaining an accurate energy balance without excessively fine mesIn version 4.0 of FlowPlus, we have added a new formulation for the energyequation which addresses this problem. For these situations, you will see radramatic changes in the temperature solution. We have done some extenstesting and have concluded that the new temperature solution in version 4.more accurate than the old solution. The verification problems that we use FlowPlus have not seen dramatic changes in temperature and you may not eIn these verification problems, however, we have not introduced any of thesituations where the energy balance problem might occur.

Interpolation of FlowPlus results to other meshes

This capability allows the user to map analysis results onto a different (oftefiner) mesh and then continue the analysis. The real benefit is that the analon the finer mesh does not need to be started from the beginning. This featuonly available for GFM files. FlowPlus cannot interpolate to or from the Cosmdata base. So you must use a GFM file as the Pre-processor file for the an

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ply

To use this feature:

1. Set up and run the flow/heat transfer analysis as you always have except that you may need to export a GFM file and use this instead of the COSMOS/M database. (We’ll call this the “First Mesh Analysis.”)

2. Build the new mesh (you may want to do this on a copied model file) and apthe appropriate boundary conditions. Export a GEOSTAR GFM (GFORM_OUT from the Control menu in GEOSTAR) file (don’t name this filethe same as the First Mesh Analysis jobname). We’ll call this the “Target Mesh.”

3. From the FlowPlus Main Menu of the First Mesh Analysis model, click on Review_Results_Export Results/BC. The following window will come up:

4. Enter the name of the Target Mesh GFM file in the Target FE Mesh File field. You can use the Browse button to locate the GFM file that you want to use asthe target mesh.

5. Click on Results.

6. Click OK.

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7. When the utility is completed, a results file for the new mesh has been written.

8. To continue running on the new mesh, click on Cancel and save this control file to the same name given to the Target Mesh GFM file. (File_Save As)

9. In the new control file, click on Analyze. Make sure the Model restart flag is unchecked and that the Results restart is checked. Enter a number of iterations, and click on GO. When the model appears in the Run-Time CFDisplay, you should see results already on it.

Mapping of FlowPlus results as boundary conditions to subsequent analyses

There are many analysis situations where the ability to map FlowPlus results as boundary conditions for a subsequent analysis is very useful. An example is mapping film coefficients calculated from a fluid/heat transfer analysis to the boundary of a thermal-stress analysis. Another example is mapping hydrodynamic pressures as a structural loading. Because FlowPlus uses finite element theory, the ability to do this sort of mapping is quite straightforward.

To use this new FlowPlus function:

1. Set up and run the flow/heat transfer analysis as you always have except that you may need to export a GFM file and use this instead of the COSMOS/M database. (We’ll call this the “Analysis model.”)

2. Set up and mesh the subsequent model. The purpose of this step is to deswhich boundary conditions will be mapped from the Analysis model and thedesired locations in the target model. Apply the desired boundary conditionbut at this point the values do not matter. (The only value that does matter that will be used in the output boundary condition set is the surrounding temperature for the film coefficient boundary condition.) Export a COSMOSGFM file (not the same name as the Analysis model). We’ll call this GFM filthe “Dummy model.”

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3. From the FlowPlus Main Menu of the Analysis model, click on Review_Results_Export Results/BC. The following window will come up:

4. Enter the name of the Dummy GFM file in the Target FE Mesh File field.

5. Click on Boundary Conditions.

6. Select the boundary condition types that you want transferred (what was set in the Dummy model). Note that the pressures you apply from the fluids analysis is sometimes opposite in direction from what the structural analysis expects. If this is the case, you can reverse the direction of the pressure applied by clicking the Reverse Direction box.

7. Enter a GFM file name to be created in the Target BC File field. The utility will create a file with this name in the same directory of the Dummy model.

8. Click OK.

9. When the utility is finished, bring up the Dummy model. At this point it is a good idea to delete the dummy boundary conditions.

10. Load the Cosmos GFM file just created. (The Target BC File).

Total pressure boundary condition

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There are some situations where only the total pressure is known (and not the velocity or static pressure). An example is a blow-down tank exhausting to the environment. Also, in cases where there is an unknown boundary exposed to the atmosphere, the total pressure probably is constant, while the static pressure is not. Such a case frequently occurs in natural and free convection problems. For these cases, it may be better to specify the total pressure as atmospheric and let the static pressure be determined from the flow across that boundary. The boundary condition mapping in Cosmos is the Hydraulic Flow value found in Loads/BC_Thermal_Hydraulic Flow. Total pressure is specified as a gage pressure (with the reference pressure subtracted out). NOTE: This boundary condition can only be read by FlowPlus from the GEOSTAR .gfm file. The COSMOS database files cannot be used with this boundary condition.
Read GEOSTAR boundary conditions in local coordinate systems

FlowPlus 4.0 will now read the local coordinate system information from Cosmos and transform the boundary conditions from this local coordinate system to the FlowPlus analysis system automatically. You can use multiple local coordinate systems in GEOSTAR to set these boundary conditions.

Multi-processor parallelization

Because multi-processor computers are becoming more and more prevalent and obtainable, FlowPlus numerical solvers are now multi-threaded to utilize such hardware. Detection of multi-processors is fully automatic, and there are no user settings in the FlowPlus User Interface to control the threading. There is no performance penalty on single-processor machines.

Compressible Liquid capability added (FlowPlus Advanced only)

This functionary is useful for simulating the so-called water hammer problem. In this situation, a valve in a liquid pipeline is closed suddenly, and a pressure disturbance (shock) travels up the pipe. Such analyses should be run transient to capture the propagation of the pressure wave.

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To run such a model, select Compressible Liquid in the Analysis Selections window. On the Fluid Property window, select water or specify the properties of

a liquid, and be sure to set the Bulk Modulus (in place of the Ratio of cp/cv).

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Global re-initialization of field variables
Probably most useful for heat transfer problems, global re-initialization can be found under Control_Initialization:

By checking a box in the Re-initialize column and entering a value in the appropriate field, the quantity will be reset to the specified value throughout the entire domain. This is especially handy if after running a flow and thermal calculation, you decide that you want to keep the flow solution, but discard the temperature field. By re-inintializing the temperature, you can do this without having to re-run the flow calculation from scratch.

Check valve regions

The check valve feature is useful for modeling the presence of a check valve in a system. The only two parameters necessary are the wide-open K factor and the shut-off flow rate. The K factor is the loss coefficient of the valve when it is in the wide open position, allowing flow to pass. The shut-off flow rate is the flow rate at which the valve will close. Above this flow rate, the valve is open.

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In GEOSTAR, each check valve should have its own unique MP ID or material property number (as should each substance and internal fan). In the FlowPlus User Interface, check valve parameters are set in the Fluid Properties window by first creating the appropriate Property ID number using the New button, clicking on Extended Attributes, and selecting Check Valve. Be sure to set the appropriate fluid properties for the fluid passing through the check valve. They are probably the same as the other fluid regions. Clicking on the Edit button brings up the Check Valve Dialog:

The Flow Direction should be specified. If the flow direction through the valve is not aligned with the global coordinate system, then a local coordinate system must be created in GEOSTAR that is aligned with the flow. Be sure to enter the ID of the aligned local coordinate system in the Check Valve dialog. Enter the Full Open K Factor (this is the distributed resistance of the valve when it is fully opened). Enter the Cutoff Flow Rate and select the units for this flow rate (e.g., CFM).

Post-process turbulence intensity in CFDisplay

The turbulence intensity is a good measure of turbulence levels. It is also sometimes used to determine the noise induced by turbulent flows. You can now post-process the turbulence intensity in CFDisplay.

Added variable properties in-W-C units system

Buoyancy, moist, and not-STP property variations have been added for the in-Watt-C units system. Note that when using any of these variations, temperatures should be entered in Kelvin units.

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Progress bar

We have added a progress bar to the Analysis Information window. The progress bar is used for FlowPlus database setup and post-processing output operations which sometimes take a significant amount of CPU time.

Automated 0 iteration run

This feature was added to help automate the process of “running zero iteratiRunning the analysis 0 iterations is useful both before and after the real anarun for several reasons, and this feature automates this. When Analysis_Run Zero Iterations is selected from the Main Menu, the Analyze window comes with 0 set as the number of iterations. Simply click on Go, and the process

execute. Some reasons for running 0 iterations include:

• Making sure the analysis model is correct prior to running the analysis.

• To output a quantity that was not previously selected after the analysis has completed.

Save-All-As function

Found under File on the FlowPlus main menu, Save All As is a new utility that copies all of the “run-necessary” files of an existing analysis to a user-selecfilename. When selected, you will be prompted to enter the name and locatiothe new analysis. FlowPlus will then copy the control file, the Cosmos GFM fthe bc, gm, and results files to the new name and location. This is an easy wrunning the same model with a parameter changed (for example), without hato go to the operating system to copy files. Note that the Cosmos data baseare not copied - only the GFM file is copied.

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File browser for review functions

We have added a Browse button to both the Review_Results_Nodal Results and the Review_Results_Wall Results dialog boxes. The browse button can be used to locate the GEOSTAR list file which contains the nodes at which you want FlowPlus to report either nodal or wall results. This will eliminate the need to type in the file name.

New combined restart on Analyze window

We have combined the old Mesh and Boundary Conditions restart buttons from FlowPlus 3.0 into one Model restart button. With FlowPlus 4.0, if you make any changes to the model in GEOSTAR whether they are moving nodes or new or modified boundary conditions, you should un-check the Model restart button on the Analyze window.

New data entry tables

Certain property variations and transient boundary conditions such as piecewise

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linear and polynomial rely on a table for data entry. We have made this table easier to use.
Data fields are added using the Insert Before and Insert After buttons. Unlike FlowPlus 3.0, it is not necessary to hit Enter after each data row.

New CFDisplay with better part typing

Several new features were added to the CFDisplay for this release:

• Wireframe Display

• Save Scene to Clipboard

• Print Command

• Cutting Plane Vector Density Set in Cutting Plane Dialog

• Uniform Color Vectors

• Hidden Line Display

• Move Model as Outline

• Improved Part Attributes with Part Highlighting

• Parts by Property

• Part Tips

• Improved Information Dialog

These features are explained in the following sections:

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Wireframe DisplayIt is now possible to view the model as an wireframe outline. This makes a much clearer image than displaying as points. To show the entire model as an outline, click on the Outline icon:

Save Scene to ClipboardAn image can be saved to the Windows Clipboard using this utility:

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Print Command
Graphics can be printed directly from CFDisplay by clicking on the Print icon:

Vector Density Set in Cutting Plane DialogVectors on cutting planes are displayed in an ordered matrix. In previous versions of CFDisplay, to adjust the density of vectors in the matrix, a command had to be typed into the Command Dialog. In the new CFDisplay, the vector density is entered on the cutting plane dialog:

The two values required are the number of vectors in each direction in the two dimensional cutting plane.

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Uniform Color VectorsWhen displaying vectors on cutting planes, the user has a choice regarding the coloring of the vectors. They can either be colored by the active scalar quantity, or they can all be uniform color. This toggle is on the Cutting Plane dialog box:

Hidden Line DisplayA hidden line display of the mesh can be created by clicking on the Hidden Line icon:

Move Model as OutlineTo improve performance when moving or rotating the model, click on the Move Model as Outline icon. This will cause the model to be displayed as a wireframe

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outline whenever the user pans, zooms, or rotates the image. The selection is on by default in both the Run-Time CFDisplay and the Post-Processor CFDisplay.

Improved Part Attributes with Part HighlightingBy clicking on Model_Change Part Attributes, the user can control how each “part” is displayed using the Change Part Attributes dialog:

In CFDisplay, a “part” is any flow boundary condition. Such items as inlets, outlets, walls, slip surfaces, and shell surfaces will be listed in the Change Attributes dialog. When a part is selected from the list, it will highlight in theCFDisplay Graphics window. The Draw Style and Part Attributes can then bchanged as desired. The settings made for every part are saved, and are nchanged until that part is selected again. To clear the selection list (no partsselected), position the mouse cursor in the Graphics window off of the mod

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hold down the Control key (on the keyboard), and click with the left mouse button.

Parts by PropertyParts (boundaries) are further classified by their property ID (as set in the FlowPlus Property windows). Visible in the Change Part Attributes dialog (see above), parts can be displayed by their property. This is very useful for complicated conjugate heat transfer models with multiple solid property types, for example.

Part TipsPart Tips provides an interactive read-out of the identity of each part (boundary by property) simply by holding the mouse cursor over the part. Click on Display_Part Tip, to turn on Part Tips, and the name of the CFDisplay part will be displayed for whichever part you put the mouse cursor on. An example of a part tip is shown in the following image:

Results Extraction and Improved Information DialogTo display the actual numerical value at a location (any surface) hold down the Control key on your keyboard, and click the left mouse button. You will see the polygon highlight. Now, hold down the Control key again, and click the right mouse button. A menu will appear, and you should select “Show”.

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