CFD Online Discussion Forums - [Gmsh] Gmsh units?

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Hi guys,

can you tell me which units gmsh is using? I couldn't find any information about this...:confused: Would be nice if I could tell gmsh to set mm as default unit...

Thanks,
Ben

Dimensionless or Meters

I believe its units are non-dimensional and depend on what your solver loads it as. For the sake of dimensional sanity, I believe most every solver uses meters. I always just use meters from the beginning, but there are some utilities to help scale your already present numbers.

For scaling inside of gmsh: (have not used)
Dilate { { expression-list }, expression } { transform-list }

In OpenFOAM you might look into transformPoints(have not used)
http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/openfoam-meshing-gmsh/61881-gmshtofoam-gmsh2tofoam-amp-gmsh-sudden-disappear.html#post204111

In OpenFOAM's blockmesh the convertToMeters function will preform scaling.

Hope that helps!

Just in case someone runs into the same problem: The Gmsh-default unit seems to be meters. I found two ways solving my problem to change this default-unit for usage with OpenFoam:

First option uses the Gmsh default-settings. Create your geometry, mesh everything and save the mesh. Import that mesh into your foam-case by

Code:

gmshToFoam <name.msh>

. After that use the

Code:

transformPoints

util to get your desired unit:

Code:

# cd $TO_YOUR_FOAM_CASE

# gmshToFoam untitled.msh

# transformPoints -scale '(0.001 0.001 0.001)'

Second options changes the default-settings of gmsh by

Code:

Mesh.ScalingFactor=0.001

. As I found this option, this is what I prefer as I do not have to execute two commands, just import mesh...

Hope that helps.

[Gmsh] Gmsh units?Reply to Thread

Hi !
I always thought I was alone responsable for choosing a coherent set of units :
USI for example :cool: