[snappyHexMesh] Problems meshing a pipe

U.Golling · November 16, 2010, 06:19

Dear Foamers,
I want to mesh a pipe-system with snappyHexMesh. The best way to do it seems to be: 3 stl-Files one for the pipe, one for the inlet and one for outlet. Right?
But i don't get it right. Can you tell me, how the geometries behind this stl-Files have to look like? Can i define just areas for Inlet and Outlet and the wall of the pipe (my CAD-programm (Inventor Prof.2011) says: no, a geometry has to be a volume-body to export it as *.stl)?

I am still a beginner in OpenFoam and so thankfull for every help and hint you can give, concerning simulating internal flow problems.

greets
U.

preichl · November 23, 2010, 00:12

Hi Ulrich,

Specifying 3 stl files is how I have looked at similar problems in the past. I normally export my geometries from SolidWorks and I am able to export stl files for both the entire 3D geometry and for selected surfaces.
In SolidWorks I can select a surface from the 3D part and then select save as an STL file and it will ask if I want to save just the surface or everything. Selecting just the surface is what I choose to get an stl file for each boundary.
I am not familiar with Inventor Prof 2011, but have you tried doing something similar?
The basic format of an STL files is discussed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)

I hope this helps somewhat.

Cheers,

Paul.

U.Golling · November 30, 2010, 05:24

Hello Paul,

thank you for your help. As far as i know, until now, Inventor cannot export just a surface in a stl-File. But it is not a problem anymore, for me.
In the end my biggest mistake in this case was something other: Open Foam is in meter and my inventor-stl-file was in mm. A slight mistake.

Thanks and
greets
U

November 16, 2010, 06:19	Problems meshing a pipe	#1
U.Golling New Member Ulrich Golling Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 15	Dear Foamers, I want to mesh a pipe-system with snappyHexMesh. The best way to do it seems to be: 3 stl-Files one for the pipe, one for the inlet and one for outlet. Right? But i don't get it right. Can you tell me, how the geometries behind this stl-Files have to look like? Can i define just areas for Inlet and Outlet and the wall of the pipe (my CAD-programm (Inventor Prof.2011) says: no, a geometry has to be a volume-body to export it as *.stl)? I am still a beginner in OpenFoam and so thankfull for every help and hint you can give, concerning simulating internal flow problems. greets U.

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November 23, 2010, 00:12		#2
preichl Member Paul Reichl Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 33 Rep Power: 16	Hi Ulrich, Specifying 3 stl files is how I have looked at similar problems in the past. I normally export my geometries from SolidWorks and I am able to export stl files for both the entire 3D geometry and for selected surfaces. In SolidWorks I can select a surface from the 3D part and then select save as an STL file and it will ask if I want to save just the surface or everything. Selecting just the surface is what I choose to get an stl file for each boundary. I am not familiar with Inventor Prof 2011, but have you tried doing something similar? The basic format of an STL files is discussed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format) I hope this helps somewhat. Cheers, Paul.

November 30, 2010, 05:24		#3
U.Golling New Member Ulrich Golling Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 15	Hello Paul, thank you for your help. As far as i know, until now, Inventor cannot export just a surface in a stl-File. But it is not a problem anymore, for me. In the end my biggest mistake in this case was something other: Open Foam is in meter and my inventor-stl-file was in mm. A slight mistake. Thanks and greets U