How to separate frontAndBack
 

Hello all,

I have a 2D mesh from fluent. When I run fluentMeshToFoam, it is automatically converted to a single layer 3D mesh. The front and back planes are combined in a single patch named "frontAndBackPlanes".
There is a tutorial that splits the boundary patch: https://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/op...onditions.html However, since "front" and "back" patches share the same cell, this trick doesn't work.
I know that the ultimate solution is to make a single-layer 3D mesh in fluent but is there any workaround to do it within OpenFOAM?

Thanks!

Hi!


Maybe it is a silly question, but why do you need to split it? 2D mesh -> front and back are empty, and you will need the same BCs there.
Also you shouldn't evaluate anything there so I think there is no reason for that.


BTW: check the topoSet and createPatch utlities.

I need to use extrudeMesh to generate a 3D pipe from the cross-section. That’s why I want a separate face.
Or is there anyway to get a 2D face patch from Fluent directly?

Well. Then it would be nicer to do it with blockMesh.
As I know you can't do it. So it this case I would go with topoSet+createPatch and extrude that patch.
Or simply do it in fluent which is the easiest way.


And as you originally asked:
"is there any workaround to do it within OpenFOAM?"
Yes, there is a workaround for nearly everything in OpenFOAM, but in the worst case you have to code a little. ;)