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January 9, 2012, 23:07 |
Openfoam Case Manager / Laucher GUI?
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#1 |
Member
Brenda EM
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 38
Rep Power: 14 |
Hi,
Having worked with Code_Saturne, I am trying to get starting with Openfoam. I was wondering if there was a case manager GUI such as the Simplefoam one that ships with CAELInux, or the now defunct FoamX? I have a cube in a box model prepared in Salome, meshed it in tetahedrons, named my inlet, outlet, and wall faces, and exported to UNV, but now there are a mariad of folders and files that have to be in place before I even run ideasUnvToFoam or even check the mesh. It looks like OpenFoam can solve a lot of different types of cases, but I don't see a lot of documentation on how to prepare simple scripts, nor do I see firm information on which files must be in place. Some documentation does not even state that certain folders have to be in place at all. I cannot help but think that there must be a easier way to do a simple test, even if it means that a have a .zip/tar/7z of dummy folders and a sample script to edit. It is one thing to give a rundown of all of a program's commands; it is another to give contextual information and some real world examples. I don't know whose idea it was to remove FoamX, but it's a boom for commercial solvers. Any help would be appreciated. |
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January 10, 2012, 08:48 |
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#2 | ||||
Senior Member
Alberto Passalacqua
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ames, Iowa, United States
Posts: 1,912
Rep Power: 36 |
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After this, open /constant/polyMesh/boundary and use the names listed there to define the boundary conditions in the 0 folder. In the constant folder you set physical properties and in system the numerical and solution settings. Quote:
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Best,
__________________
Alberto Passalacqua GeekoCFD - A free distribution based on openSUSE 64 bit with CFD tools, including OpenFOAM. Available as in both physical and virtual formats (current status: http://albertopassalacqua.com/?p=1541) OpenQBMM - An open-source implementation of quadrature-based moment methods. To obtain more accurate answers, please specify the version of OpenFOAM you are using. |
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January 10, 2012, 12:48 |
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#3 |
Member
Brenda EM
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 38
Rep Power: 14 |
I am sorry, but what you stated was not consistent with what ideasUnvToFoam does. As stated elsewhere in multiple threads, as well as my experience, without certain folders in place, ideasUnvToFoam will error out on exit, and not proceed. That's one of the things I have problems with.
Whether or not the process is complicated or not, it is cryptic. What was the "0" folder/directory name was supposed to represent is not clear to me. I do not have money to spend of seminars. I would have hoped that there would be enough documentation available to make the program accessible to all. I have seen amazing results with OpenFoam, but I am still struggling with my first cube-in-a-box test case. I implore OpenFoam to bring back a helper application, such as FoamX or CAE's SimpleFoam unless pre and post processing can be...streamlined : ) |
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January 10, 2012, 13:05 |
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#4 |
Member
andres
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 31
Rep Power: 14 |
Hi!
At first you have to be able to run/ compile the cavity tutorial. Understand the structure of a openfoam case folder. Try to re-run the icoFoam/cavity using the official tutorial and take a look of this other tutorial http://web.student.chalmers.se/group...alkThrough.pdf saludos! |
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January 10, 2012, 13:22 |
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#5 | |||||
Senior Member
Alberto Passalacqua
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ames, Iowa, United States
Posts: 1,912
Rep Power: 36 |
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Best,
__________________
Alberto Passalacqua GeekoCFD - A free distribution based on openSUSE 64 bit with CFD tools, including OpenFOAM. Available as in both physical and virtual formats (current status: http://albertopassalacqua.com/?p=1541) OpenQBMM - An open-source implementation of quadrature-based moment methods. To obtain more accurate answers, please specify the version of OpenFOAM you are using. |
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January 11, 2012, 20:41 |
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#6 |
Member
Brenda EM
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 38
Rep Power: 14 |
Penn State Tutorial Walkthrough Notes:
The OpenFoam tutorials must be copied over for the tutorial instructions to work as shown in "Getting Started" on www.openfoam.org/download/git.php On page 4, the tutorial paths have changed adding "/incompressible" as in $FOAM_RUN/tutorials/incompressible/icoFOAM/cavity 3.) Apparently, the sourced environment variable $FOAM_RUN will point to ~/OpenFoam/username-2.0.1/run whereas username will be your username and 2.0.1 will be the version of OpenFOAM you are using. On page 6, in paraview/parafoam "accept" has been changed to "Apply" On page 6, I believe to view the same results, the user might click on the Object inspector "Display" tab, and in the "Color" section choose "p" . To turn on the scale click on "Edit Color Map" and then "Color Legend" and then choose "Show Color Legend". To make the base color green as in the tutorial, select "Choose Preset" and then "Blue to Red" HSV and then okay it. [At this point the user might wonder why a high-school drop-out, armed only with a GED, physics lecture videos from MIT and hearsay CFD knowledge from a Ames Research Center retiree, and who struggling to live while in poverty, in the heart of Silicon Valley, is updating class notes for Penn State University professor. Okay, we forge onward....] On page 9, it might be worth suggesting that the student type "ls" to show the directory contents. In that way they will see the directories that are being discussed, or "ls -l" to see if these things are files or directories/folders. On Page 11, it might be worth mentioning who aren't familiar with linux/unix that blockMeshDict is a text file that can be read with more, or gedit if using on Gnome. This also might a good place to mention that OpenFoam deals with SI units, such as Meters, which is why the convertToMeters command is invoked. On page 17, it might also be worth mentioning that controlDict is a text file and not a directory which also can be read, as above. On page 30, Looking for "PBiCG"? I suspect that we are using a different solver now. On page 35, we need to add "incompressible" in the path for copying. For those who don't know, to launch Allrun , we ./Allrun from the command prompt. Last edited by BrendaEM; January 11, 2012 at 22:08. |
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January 11, 2012, 20:49 |
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#7 | |
Member
andres
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 31
Rep Power: 14 |
Quote:
I think that the first instruction is only a "precaution" to keep the clean tutorials files. You can copy this file wherever you want and then run it just typing the correct solver name Saludos |
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January 11, 2012, 22:09 |
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#8 |
Member
Brenda EM
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 38
Rep Power: 14 |
Apparently, the pathlist has changed since the tutorial/lecture notes were prepared.
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January 11, 2012, 22:29 |
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#9 |
Member
Brenda EM
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 38
Rep Power: 14 |
If anyone could post some practical tutorials on using Openfoam for CFD, that would be appreciated.
For real-world use, after preparing meshes, the pre-processing and directory structure preparation seems formidable without helper utilities. I saw one webpage that dealt with which directories need to be in place to convert invoke proper mesh conversion, but the documentation seems incomplete. What seems missing how to prepare original data for solving. Yes, we have test cases and their invocation, and we also have a library reference, but the stuff information between, such as workflow from .unv-to-solve information seem sparse. OpenFoam is power software, deserving excellent documentation. |
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January 12, 2012, 08:26 |
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#10 | |
Senior Member
Alberto Passalacqua
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ames, Iowa, United States
Posts: 1,912
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Quote:
0/ constant/ >>polyMesh/ system/ On a side note, I can't stress more how easier it would be if users read the User's guide carefully from the beginning to the end, while trying to put it in practice. I know it is not complete, but it surely contains all users need to know to avoid these mistakes. Best,
__________________
Alberto Passalacqua GeekoCFD - A free distribution based on openSUSE 64 bit with CFD tools, including OpenFOAM. Available as in both physical and virtual formats (current status: http://albertopassalacqua.com/?p=1541) OpenQBMM - An open-source implementation of quadrature-based moment methods. To obtain more accurate answers, please specify the version of OpenFOAM you are using. |
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January 12, 2012, 08:30 |
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#11 | |||
Senior Member
Alberto Passalacqua
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ames, Iowa, United States
Posts: 1,912
Rep Power: 36 |
Quote:
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Best,
__________________
Alberto Passalacqua GeekoCFD - A free distribution based on openSUSE 64 bit with CFD tools, including OpenFOAM. Available as in both physical and virtual formats (current status: http://albertopassalacqua.com/?p=1541) OpenQBMM - An open-source implementation of quadrature-based moment methods. To obtain more accurate answers, please specify the version of OpenFOAM you are using. |
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January 12, 2012, 12:30 |
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#12 |
Member
Brenda EM
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 38
Rep Power: 14 |
As I stated before, the path issue is that the paths where the OpenFoam stores its tutorials data have changed since the tutorial have been written, and that will needlessly frustrate users. The tutorial needs to be updated.
As I have also stated before, if OpenFoam does not have certain folders in place, it will exit out with an error, just as MIT has mentioned in here and someone has mentioned here. Also, as I stated, information on workflow is sparse, and between what you stated and the other two links, you will find dependencies as which files and directories need to be in place, and when. Am I to assume that no less than 11 files and folders need to be in place to run the test? As for a specific problem, I want to make a fresh study of cube in a box. I have a unv. file already exported with the (inner) cubewalls, inlet, outlet, and for the sake brevity we can call the rest of the faces testsection. 1.) Which files and folders must I create before invoking ideasUnvToFoam ? 2.) What else needs to be done before I invoke the solver? 3.) If I want compressible, as in air, does the process change? If OpenFoam is to be useful for academic purposes, should it not have good documentation? If there is a conflict of interest, should that not be resolved? |
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January 12, 2012, 13:03 |
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#13 | ||
Member
andres
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 31
Rep Power: 14 |
Quote:
Case name = backstep Create a folder named backstep, It can be located anywhere you want, but for convenience put it in tutorials/incompressible/simpleFoam This new "backstep" folder should contain this folders: 0/ constant/ system/ and the file name.unv The you have to open a new Terminal and go to this folder, then write ideasUnvToFoam name.unv ( where name is the name of your unv mesh file ) After this process you have to check the "boundary" file inside constant/polymesh and see if the patch name/type are correct. Same for 0/ folder check the BC ( try to work with laminar case first aboiding turbulence bc) If anything is correct just type simpleFoam on the terminal.. check names/bc/properties.. etc but all the tutorial files are ready to run. Try to keep it simple, icoFoam/simpleFoam are great to learn how. Try to modify the cavity tutorial blockMesh and put some inlet/outlet and run it like a laminar flow between parallel plates.. Quote:
Sorry about my English I´m doing my best =P Saludos! |
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January 12, 2012, 13:16 |
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#14 | |||||||
Senior Member
Alberto Passalacqua
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ames, Iowa, United States
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Rep Power: 36 |
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The tutorial on the MIT website is correct in explaining the details of mesh conversion. What I am trying to tell you is that you do NOT need to write those configuration files every time you need to set-up a case. The typical procedure to set a case up is the following:
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For what concerns the sparsity of the information, I agree. However OpenFOAM is open source, and the wiki is always waiting for contributions ;-) Quote:
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So, you would go to ~/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-2.1.x/tutorials/incompressible/pisoFoam/ras/ and copy the cavity test case. Then you rename it to something you like, and the copy your UNV file into the directory. At this point you can run the mesh converter. Quote:
Open finally the files U, p, k, epsilon, and set the boundary conditions, using their name to identify them (see how it is done in the cavity tutorial). You'll have to set the numerics in fvSchemes and fvSolution, and the time stepping / saving information into controlDict. Quote:
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Best,
__________________
Alberto Passalacqua GeekoCFD - A free distribution based on openSUSE 64 bit with CFD tools, including OpenFOAM. Available as in both physical and virtual formats (current status: http://albertopassalacqua.com/?p=1541) OpenQBMM - An open-source implementation of quadrature-based moment methods. To obtain more accurate answers, please specify the version of OpenFOAM you are using. Last edited by alberto; January 12, 2012 at 13:43. |
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January 12, 2012, 23:42 |
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#15 |
Member
Brenda EM
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 38
Rep Power: 14 |
Thank You, I really think that you both are trying to help me.
I just got home late. I will look at it in the morning. Apparently, the controlDict needed to be written before the IdeasToFoam conversion process is done? Code:
brenda@Brenda-DTL:~/OpenFOAM/brenda-2.0.1/run/tutorials/incompressible/simpleFoam/backstep$ ideasUnvToFoam Mesh_1.unv /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\ | ========= | | | \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox | | \\ / O peration | Version: 2.0.1 | | \\ / A nd | Web: www.OpenFOAM.com | | \\/ M anipulation | | \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/ Build : 2.0.1-cce6c678443c Exec : ideasUnvToFoam Mesh_1.unv Date : Jan 12 2012 Time : 20:36:47 Host : Brenda-DTL PID : 6373 Case : /home/brenda/OpenFOAM/brenda-2.0.1/run/tutorials/incompressible/simpleFoam/backstep nProcs : 1 sigFpe : Enabling floating point exception trapping (FOAM_SIGFPE). fileModificationChecking : Monitoring run-time modified files using timeStampMaster allowSystemOperations : Disallowing user-supplied system call operations // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * // Create time --> FOAM FATAL IO ERROR: cannot find file file: /home/brenda/OpenFOAM/brenda-2.0.1/run/tutorials/incompressible/simpleFoam/backstep/system/controlDict at line 0. From function regIOobject::readStream() in file db/regIOobject/regIOobjectRead.C at line 73. FOAM exiting |
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January 13, 2012, 08:24 |
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#16 |
Member
andres
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 31
Rep Power: 14 |
Send me your email direction by pm
I will send you a really simple case: flow between parallel plates running on laminar simpleFoam under blockMeshdict then modify it and try to import one unv mesh file. Saludos |
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January 13, 2012, 11:08 |
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#17 | |
Senior Member
Alberto Passalacqua
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ames, Iowa, United States
Posts: 1,912
Rep Power: 36 |
Quote:
Best,
__________________
Alberto Passalacqua GeekoCFD - A free distribution based on openSUSE 64 bit with CFD tools, including OpenFOAM. Available as in both physical and virtual formats (current status: http://albertopassalacqua.com/?p=1541) OpenQBMM - An open-source implementation of quadrature-based moment methods. To obtain more accurate answers, please specify the version of OpenFOAM you are using. |
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January 15, 2012, 09:12 |
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#18 |
Retired Super Moderator
Bruno Santos
Join Date: Mar 2009
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Greetings to all,
Although I'm coming in rather late to this thread, and since this hasn't been mentioned before on this thread, here's a good link about GUI's for OpenFOAM for future reference: http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/GUI Best regards, Bruno
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February 7, 2012, 15:55 |
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#19 |
Member
Brenda EM
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 38
Rep Power: 14 |
As a new user, I still find OpenFoam's file structure and pre-processing dependencies needlessly confusing and poorly documented.
The tutorials I have found tell you what to do, but do not give me a good sense of what I am doing, so the jump between following the tutorial and creating a new case from scratch is dreadful. Packaging test cases with OpenFoam does not equal documentation. I wish there was enough documentation to re-create the test cases. Even if I am successful, it is laborious to learn something from taking it apart and examining it, rather than having information on why things are they way they are. For instance, if the 0 folder had been named initial or initial_condition or something such as that, I would have known what it was. Or, if the 0 folder was in another folder named "timestep" or "time" it would have meant something to me. [I have been working with computers since 1984, and I have found benefit of having meaningful file and folder names.] Even the gracious people who have helped me in this thread have omitted important steps. The commercial products which employ openfoam are out to the question for students, which leaves 2 open source packages, which mesh and they are interesting, but young. Looking at OpenFoam objectively, I assert that the decision to stop support on helper pre-processing applications for Openfoam was indeed a dubious mistake. Why should parafoam, exist for post processing, and not employ a preprocessing? I feel that it is a logic that is inconsistent. [Sorry, I have been sick for the last few weeks.] |
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February 7, 2012, 21:11 |
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#20 | ||||||
Senior Member
Alberto Passalacqua
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ames, Iowa, United States
Posts: 1,912
Rep Power: 36 |
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I could object to your suggestion of putting time-steps in a subfolder because it would add complexity to the structure of the case Quote:
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Best,
__________________
Alberto Passalacqua GeekoCFD - A free distribution based on openSUSE 64 bit with CFD tools, including OpenFOAM. Available as in both physical and virtual formats (current status: http://albertopassalacqua.com/?p=1541) OpenQBMM - An open-source implementation of quadrature-based moment methods. To obtain more accurate answers, please specify the version of OpenFOAM you are using. |
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