CFD Online Discussion Forums - OpenFOAM interFOAM stops without error

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, so I feel obliged to say this is a neat community to find on my recently-discovered CFD journey!

As the title says, OpenFOAM stops suddenly, and didn't do so until recently.

I have tried modifying the controlDict, ensuring the blockMesh is okay, uncommenting the inlet to make sure that wasn't causing it, and "playing" with the values of coefficients. I would like to add that I had to use "writeNow" to stop a very long simulation at one point, and I believe I had that problem since then. I have began running in parallel thinking that maybe it would lower the load on my computer. (Even if there's plenty of space left in the hard drive.) One thing I would like to try but don't know how is how to clear workspace memory. I have also heard of this being an issue with Ubuntu, so if all else fails, I will have to find a different solution for that. (OpenFOAM v1912 and Ubuntu 18.04 is what I'm using.) There are a few threads that have responses, but none have helped me solve this or are different in nature.

My next step is to re-do everything and troubleshoot it that way, but if someone could see an error that I wouldn't, I would appreciate it.

I am modifying the damBreak multiphase interFoam tutorial case. The goal is to observe fluid flow over a barrier. I have a field of water on both sides, and will have an inlet sitting above the water surface to replicate a storm surge. (Using GroovyBC eventually, but first I want to start with a simple inlet to begin.) I will attach a picture below.

blockMesh executes okay, and the file is copied here:

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
| ========= | |
| \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
| \\ / O peration | Version: v1912 |
| \\ / A nd | Website: www.openfoam.com |
| \\/ M anipulation | |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
version 2.0;
format ascii;
class dictionary;
object blockMeshDict;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

scale 1;

vertices
(
(0 0 0)
(0 40 15)
(0 0 15)
(0 0 12)
(0 40 12)
(48 40 15)
(48 0 15)
(48 0 12)
(48 40 12)
(0 0 11)
(0 40 11)
(48 40 11)
(48 0 11)
(0 40 8)
(0 0 8)
(48 0 8)
(48 40 8)
(0 40 5)
(0 0 5)
(45 0 5)
(45 40 5)
(0 40 0)
(0 0 0)
(40 0 0)
(40 40 0)
(49.5 40 15)
(49.5 0 15)
(49.5 0 12)
(49.5 40 12)
(49.5 0 11)
(49.5 40 11)
(49.5 0 8)
(49.5 40 8)
(50.5 0 15)
(50.5 40 15)
(50.5 0 12)
(50.5 40 12)
(49.5 0 11)
(50.5 0 11)
(49.5 40 11)
(50.5 40 11)
(52 0 15)
(52 40 15)
(52 0 12)
(52 40 12)
(52 0 11)
(52 40 11)
(50.5 0 8)
(50.5 40 8)
(52 0 8)
(52 40 8)
(100 0 15)
(100 40 15)
(100 0 12)
(100 40 12)
(100 0 11)
(100 40 11)
(100 0 8)
(100 40 8)
(55 0 5)
(55 40 5)
(100 40 5)
(100 0 5)
(60 40 0)
(60 0 0)
(100 40 0)
(100 0 0)
);

blocks
(
hex (1 5 6 2 4 8 7 3) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (3 4 8 7 9 10 11 12) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (9 10 11 12 14 13 16 15) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (14 13 16 15 18 17 20 19) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (18 17 20 19 22 21 24 23) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (6 5 25 26 7 8 28 27) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (7 8 28 27 12 11 30 29) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (12 11 30 29 15 16 32 31) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (26 25 34 33 27 28 36 35) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (27 28 36 35 29 30 40 38) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (33 34 42 41 35 36 44 43) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (35 36 44 43 38 40 46 45) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (38 40 46 45 47 48 50 49) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (41 42 52 51 43 44 54 53) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (43 44 54 53 45 46 56 55) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (45 46 56 55 49 50 58 57) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (49 50 58 57 59 60 61 62) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
hex (59 60 61 62 64 63 65 66) (15 15 15) simpleGrading (1 1 1)
);

edges
(
);

boundary
(
BottomWalls
{
type wall;
faces
(
(22 21 24 23)
(15 16 20 19)
(19 20 24 23)
(15 16 32 31)
(29 30 32 31)
(29 30 40 38)
(38 40 48 47)
(47 48 50 49)
(49 50 60 59)
(59 60 63 64)
(64 63 65 66)
);
}

SideWalls
{
type wall;
faces
(
(1 2 3 4)
(4 3 9 10)
(10 9 14 13)
(14 13 17 18)
(18 17 21 22)
(51 52 53 54)
(62 61 66 65)
(1 5 8 4)
(2 6 7 3)
(8 4 10 11)
(3 7 12 9)
(11 10 13 16)
(9 12 15 14)
(16 13 17 20)
(14 15 19 18)
(20 17 21 24)
(18 19 23 22)
(25 5 8 28)
(6 26 27 7)
(28 8 11 30)
(7 27 29 12)
(30 11 16 32)
(12 29 31 15)
(34 25 28 36)
(26 33 35 27)
(36 28 30 40)
(27 35 38 29)
(34 42 44 36)
(33 41 43 35)
(36 44 46 40)
(35 43 45 38)
(40 46 50 48)
(38 45 49 47)
(42 52 54 44)
(41 51 53 43)
(44 54 56 46)
(43 53 55 45)
(46 56 58 50)
(45 55 57 49)
(50 58 61 60)
(49 57 62 59)
(60 61 65 63)
(59 62 66 64)
(55 56 58 57)
(53 54 56 55)

);
}

inlet
{
type patch;
faces
(
(57 58 61 62)
);
}
);

mergePatchPairs
(
);

// ************************************************** *********************** //

setFields executes okay, and the text is like so:

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
| ========= | |
| \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
| \\ / O peration | Version: v1912 |
| \\ / A nd | Website: www.openfoam.com |
| \\/ M anipulation | |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
version 2.0;
format ascii;
class dictionary;
location "system";
object setFieldsDict;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

defaultFieldValues
(
volScalarFieldValue alpha.water 0
);

regions
(
boxToCell
{
box (0 0 0) (100 40 5);
fieldValues
(
volScalarFieldValue alpha.water 1
);
}
);

// ************************************************** *********************** //

Some other text files that I should add are the following:

alpha.water

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
| ========= | |
| \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
| \\ / O peration | Version: v1912 |
| \\ / A nd | Website: www.openfoam.com |
| \\/ M anipulation | |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
version 2.0;
format ascii;
class volScalarField;
object alpha.water;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

dimensions [0 0 0 0 0 0 0];

internalField uniform 0;

boundaryField
{
SideWalls
{
type zeroGradient;
}

BottomWalls
{
type zeroGradient;
}

inlet
{
type inletOutlet;
inletValue uniform 1;
value uniform 1;
}
}

// ************************************************** *********************** //

Velocity

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
| ========= | |
| \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
| \\ / O peration | Version: v1912 |
| \\ / A nd | Website: www.openfoam.com |
| \\/ M anipulation | |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
version 2.0;
format ascii;
class volVectorField;
location "0";
object U;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

dimensions [0 1 -1 0 0 0 0];

internalField uniform (0 0 0);

boundaryField
{
atmosphere
{
type zeroGradient;
}
inlet
{
type fixedValue;
value uniform (-0.1 0 0);
type zeroGradient;
}
BottomWalls
{
type fixedValue;
value uniform (0 0 0);
}
SideWalls
{
type fixedValue;
value uniform (0 0 0);
}
defaultFaces
{
type empty;
}
}

// ************************************************** *********************** //

Pressure

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
| ========= | |
| \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
| \\ / O peration | Version: v1912 |
| \\ / A nd | Website: www.openfoam.com |
| \\/ M anipulation | |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
version 2.0;
format ascii;
class volScalarField;
object p_rgh;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

dimensions [1 -1 -2 0 0 0 0];

internalField uniform 0;

boundaryField
{
BottomWalls
{
type zeroGradient;
}

SideWalls
{
type zeroGradient;
}

atmosphere
{
type fixedValue;
value uniform 0;
}
inlet
{
type zeroGradient;
}
defaultFaces
{
type empty;
}
}

// ************************************************** *********************** //

Here are the results of running the simulation. I had to place a break to observe the line limit. (Not in parallel to save some work...)

/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
| ========= | |
| \\ / F ield | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox |
| \\ / O peration | Version: v1912 |
| \\ / A nd | Website: www.openfoam.com |
| \\/ M anipulation | |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
Build : _f3950763fe-20191219 OPENFOAM=1912
Arch : "LSB;label=32;scalar=64"
Exec : interFoam
Date : Jun 28 2020
Time : 21:37:07
Host : Scyther
PID : 1828
I/O : uncollated
Case : /home/clester/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM-v1912/tutorials/multiphase/interFoam/laminar/damBreakExperimentalNewOrleansBuild
nProcs : 1
trapFpe: Floating point exception trapping enabled (FOAM_SIGFPE).
fileModificationChecking : Monitoring run-time modified files using timeStampMaster (fileModificationSkew 10)
allowSystemOperations : Allowing user-supplied system call operations

// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
Create time

Create mesh for time = 0

Selecting dynamicFvMesh staticFvMesh

PIMPLE: Operating solver in PISO mode

Reading field p_rgh

Reading field U

Reading/calculating face flux field phi

Reading transportProperties

Selecting incompressible transport model Newtonian
Selecting incompressible transport model Newtonian
Selecting turbulence model type laminar
Selecting laminar stress model Stokes

Reading g

Reading hRef
Calculating field g.h

No MRF models present

No finite volume options present

-Break-

PIMPLE: iteration 1
MULES: Solving for alpha.water
Phase-1 volume fraction = 0.303237 Min(alpha.water) = -0.200123 Max(alpha.water) = 1
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.470101, Final residual = 0.00470078, No Iterations 142
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.0312548, Final residual = 0.00030107, No Iterations 14
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00764932, Final residual = 7.15317e-05, No Iterations 16
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00169319, Final residual = 1.66293e-05, No Iterations 14
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00078458, Final residual = 7.3817e-06, No Iterations 26
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.000337959, Final residual = 1.94399e-06, No Iterations 9
time step continuity errors : sum local = 1.11299e-06, global = 1.09047e-06, cumulative = 0.0011982
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.0073358, Final residual = 4.95642e-05, No Iterations 7
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00193711, Final residual = 1.78786e-05, No Iterations 4
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.000341676, Final residual = 2.78262e-06, No Iterations 210
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.000127011, Final residual = 1.14741e-06, No Iterations 6
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.000103713, Final residual = 9.20448e-07, No Iterations 15
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 9.78167e-05, Final residual = 8.19684e-07, No Iterations 2
time step continuity errors : sum local = 1.10003e-06, global = 1.09047e-06, cumulative = 0.00119929
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00298343, Final residual = 1.80917e-05, No Iterations 41
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00125604, Final residual = 1.0222e-05, No Iterations 8
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.000227536, Final residual = 2.04574e-06, No Iterations 219
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.000110576, Final residual = 1.0941e-06, No Iterations 4
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 9.8762e-05, Final residual = 9.23246e-07, No Iterations 17
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 9.625e-05, Final residual = 9.64234e-09, No Iterations 47
time step continuity errors : sum local = 1.09058e-06, global = 1.09047e-06, cumulative = 0.00120038
ExecutionTime = 30.98 s ClockTime = 31 s

Courant Number mean: 0.0049064 max: 0.465085
Interface Courant Number mean: 0.000231217 max: 0.441517
deltaT = 0.000471213
Time = 0.111412

PIMPLE: iteration 1
MULES: Solving for alpha.water
Phase-1 volume fraction = 0.303078 Min(alpha.water) = -0.158106 Max(alpha.water) = 1
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.170063, Final residual = 0.00156235, No Iterations 6
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.142723, Final residual = 0.00125877, No Iterations 3
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.022829, Final residual = 0.000214916, No Iterations 5
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00845082, Final residual = 7.71115e-05, No Iterations 4
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00162058, Final residual = 1.54251e-05, No Iterations 4
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.000624829, Final residual = 5.19422e-06, No Iterations 5
time step continuity errors : sum local = 1.80142e-07, global = -1.42733e-07, cumulative = 0.00120024
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.0168994, Final residual = 0.000152438, No Iterations 5
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.0288547, Final residual = 0.000258572, No Iterations 3
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00645428, Final residual = 3.41505e-05, No Iterations 4
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00155527, Final residual = 1.443e-05, No Iterations 3
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00027886, Final residual = 2.05474e-06, No Iterations 5
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 8.59067e-05, Final residual = 6.97358e-07, No Iterations 4
time step continuity errors : sum local = 1.48048e-07, global = -1.42733e-07, cumulative = 0.0012001
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.0043278, Final residual = 3.51257e-05, No Iterations 4
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00307099, Final residual = 1.4587e-05, No Iterations 5
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00198226, Final residual = 1.49418e-05, No Iterations 3
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.000408654, Final residual = 2.40682e-06, No Iterations 4
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 0.00012201, Final residual = 5.90776e-07, No Iterations 3
GAMG: Solving for p_rgh, Initial residual = 4.19613e-05, Final residual = 9.89588e-09, No Iterations 12
time step continuity errors : sum local = 1.42809e-07, global = -1.42733e-07, cumulative = 0.00119995
ExecutionTime = 33.8 s ClockTime = 34 s

Courant Number mean: 0.0126857 max: 0.640437
Interface Courant Number mean: 8.99744e-06 max: 0.0274552
deltaT = 0.000367585
Time = 0.11178

PIMPLE: iteration 1
MULES: Solving for alpha.water
Phase-1 volume fraction = 0.303089 Min(alpha.water) = -0.173888 Max(alpha.water) = 1

And if I run it again from where it left off, it stops at about the same time. (Could be a potential hint?)

Are there any ideas as to why this is happening or suggestions for finding a way through this?

Thank you for any help or suggestions!

Collin