L-7 Mesh-Control Using Sizing Functions PDF

Fluent User Services Center Introductory GAMBIT Training
www.fluentusers.com GAMBIT 2.3 June 2006
Mesh Control using Size Functions

and Boundary Layers
7-1 2006 Fluent Inc.

Size Functions and Boundary Layers

Size functions and boundary layers are mesh control tools available in
GAMBIT.
Size functions
z Can be used to smoothly control the growth in mesh size over a particular
region of the geometry starting from a source, or origin.
z Can also be used to smoothly transition from fine mesh needed to resolve
flow physics, curved geometry and model flow in thin gaps.
Boundary layers
z Used to grow layers of cells of desired height from specified boundaries of
2D/3D geometry
z Typically used to capture near wall phenomena such as turbulence and
heat transfer.
Multiple size functions and boundary layers can be used to control
mesh size distribution.

Size Functions
Size functions control the mesh distribution in a region of space,
including edges, faces, and volumes similar to the way grading controls
mesh distribution on edges.
Size functions are accessed through the Tools menu.
Size functions are designed to grade tetrahedral meshes even though
they can be used with a hex mesh.
Curvature size function refines the

mesh in regions of large curvature
Proximity size function ensures a fine

mesh in small gaps.
Multiple Size Functions: Curvature and Proximity

Types of Size Functions

Size functions require the specification of the type,
source entities, attachment, and size parameters.
The type of size function dictates the criteria upon

which the mesh will grow.
z Fixed scope is a fixed region about a source.
z Curvature scope is a region near highly curved
surfaces.
z Proximity scope is a region within a specified
distance from objects.
z Meshed ensures that a mesh is propagated in a
controlled manner from premeshed boundaries of
the domain.

Size Function Definition

Each size function type requires specification of:
z Source entities
Defines the shape and location of the "origin" of
the affected region.
z Attachment entities
Host the mesh that will be affected.
z Parameters
Three parameters define the characteristics of the
size function (except the meshed size function)
The two parameters common to all four size
function types are the growth rate and size limit.
The third (initialization) parameter is different for
each of the first three size function types.
The meshed size function does not use an
initialization parameter.

Selecting the Source Entity

Source
z Can be vertices, edges, faces, or volumes
z Can be internal or external to attachment entities
z Source entity defines shape of scope

Selecting the Attachment Entity

The attachment entities host the mesh that is to be affected

Fixed Size Function

Parameters
z Start size: Mesh size adjacent to the source entity
z Growth rate: Size ratio of two adjacent mesh elements
z Size limit: Maximum allowable mesh size on
attachment entity
Attachment: face Same edge mesh

(50 intervals)
Source: edge
Fixed Size Function No Size Function

(1,730 cells) (3,684 cells)

Curvature Size Function

Parameters
z Angle: The maximum allowable angle between
outward pointing normals for any two adjacent mesh
elements.
z Growth rate and Size limit same as for fixed S.F.
Large angle Small angle

Without Curvature S.F.
With Curvature S.F.

Proximity Size Function

Specifies number of cells in face gap (3D)
and edge gap (2D)
z For 3D gaps, the pair of faces bounding the
gap are specified as source entities.
z For 2D gaps, the pair of edges bounding
the gap or the face containing the gap can
be specified as sources.
z If a volume is selected as the source, then
all pairs of faces will be evaluated as
possible 3D gaps.
Parameters
z Cells per gap: number of mesh layers in
the gap Gap defined by two source faces
z Growth rate and Size limit: same as for
fixed
Limitations
z Becomes slow on large models
z Improper use may result in abrupt change
in size
z Solution increase resolution by changing
the defaults for background grids
Proximity size functions are useful for both
quad pave and tri meshes in 2D and tet
meshes in 3D

Meshed Size Function

The mesh is grown from the meshed source entities
into the attachment entity.
Parameters:
z No initialization parameter is needed.
z Growth rate and size limit need to be specified.
Limitations
z The source entities must be premeshed.
Premeshed
source edges Premeshed
source face

Size Function Utilities

Modify Size Function
z Size function input parameters can be
modified after the size function has
been created.
Source and Attachment entity list
Size and Growth Rate
z You must press Apply for the changes
to be made.

Size Function Utilities

View Size Function
z Select the size function to view
z Click the Initialize button
z Use the slider bar to view the range of
influence in the graphics window.
Initialized size function

on aircraft wing
Boundary Layers

Boundary Layers
Boundary layers are layers of elements growing outward from a
boundary into the domain.
z Produces high quality cells near the boundary.
z Allows resolution of flow field effects with fewer cells than would be required
without them.
In general, boundary layers are attached to:
z Edges for 2D problems
z Faces for 3D problems
High quality boundary

layer mesh

Defining a Boundary Layer
Algorithm
Definition
Input
Settings
Transition
Pattern
Attachment
Entities

Boundary Layer Algorithms

Three boundary layer algorithms are available:
z Uniform
z Aspect Ratio (first)
z Aspect Ratio (last)
Uniform Aspect Ratio (first) row Aspect Ratio (last) row
Adjacent cells Adjacent cells Cells in the last

have the same have the same layer have the
height aspect ratio user-prescribed
aspect ratio
Height is constant within Aspect ratio is constant Aspect ratio of the last
each layer of cells within each layer of cells layer is specified.
Boundary Layer Inputs

Uniform boundary layer The first three inputs are
required; the fourth is calculated)
z First row Height of first row of elements (a)
z Growth factor Factor for geometric series (b/a)
z Rows Total number of layers
z Depth Boundary layer thickness (D)
Aspect ratio-based boundary layer inputs are

similar
z First percent Starting aspect ratio
z Growth factor Factor for geometric series (b/a)
z Number of rows
For aspect ratio (last), inputs are First Row,

Number of Rows, and Aspect ratio of last layer.

Internal Continuity Option

The Internal Continuity option allows 3D boundary layers to be formed
with no crossover or overlap regions.
ON OFF
(No Overlap at Corner) (Overlap at Corner)

Wedge Corner Shape Option

The Wedge Corner Shape option is used at corner or reverse vertices
to create a rounded wedge of elements for 2D Boundary Layers.
ON OFF
(Wedge Shape) (Block Shape)

Boundary Layer Attachments

2D boundary layers are attached to edges.
3D boundary layers are attached to faces.
Temporary Display
z A boundary layer is initially displayed in orange to
indicate that it is temporary.
z Display updates immediately when changes are
made.
Direction arrow
z Points from the attachment entity toward the centroid
of the parent entity.
z This can be misleading, especially in 3D!
The boundary layer is displayed in white
(permanent) after clicking Apply.

View 3D Boundary Layers

The View 3D Boundary Layers tool allows users to examine a 3D
boundary layer mesh prior to volume meshing.
z Resolves many mesh quality issues
z Resolves tet mesh failure

Boundary Layers and Vertex Types

E
2-D Boundary layers in regions near vertices E
are defined by the vertex type.

z End: mesh overlaps E
R E
z Corner: angle trisected C
E
z Reverse: angle divided into fourths.
z Side: angle bisected
E
S E
The vertex type for Boundary Layers can be
changed in the Set Face Vertex Form in the
Face meshing menu with the Boundary layer
only option turned on.
Vertex types are also important for imprinting

3D boundary layers on adjacent faces.

Imprinting Adjacent Faces with 3D Boundary Layers

A 3D boundary layer attached to a face may imprint the adjoining faces,
depending on the vertex type of the vertices at the intersection of the
boundary layer attachment face and adjoining faces.
z If the vertex is an End type vertex, an imprint is created and displayed.
If 3D boundary layers are also attached to the adjoining faces, then the
Internal Continuity toggle will determine the crossover region and
imprint.
Imprint of 3D boundary layer on adjacent faces

with 3D boundary layer attached to bottom face
Imprinting 3D Boundary Layers by Modifying Vertex Types

When the angle between adjacent and attachment faces in greater than
120, a vertex type change to End can cause the 3D boundary layer to
imprint.
140
Attachment face
No imprinting of 3D boundary layer

and gaps due to side vertices at
the face intersections
E E
E
Vertex types changed to End closes the
gap and imprints 3D boundary layer
Appendix

How Do Size Functions Work?

Size functions work by generating a
discrete map of mesh size on a
background Cartesian grid that overlays
the attachment geometry.
z This map is used by the meshing
algorithms in growing mesh with a size
distribution.
z Multiple size functions can be integrated
into a single global size function on the
entire domain.
Size functions work in two steps:
z Size function initialization wherein a size
distribution is computed on the source Typical background grid for an
entities. automotive manifold
z Background grid generation on the
attachment entity, which resolves the
variation of the mesh size as a function of
the distance from the source. entity.

Size function initialization:
z A constant fixed mesh size is used for the
fixed size function.
z For the curvature size function and proximity
size functions, the source entity is successively
divided into smaller facets and a size is
computed on each facet.
Each facet meets the angle criterion for the
curvature size function.
Each facet meets a criterion on the gap
distance between opposite facets for the
proximity size function.
This can be computationally intensive for Initialized size function
complex surfaces. on aircraft wing
The Initialize Size Function button allows you

to visualize the size function variation radiating
from the source entity.


Background grid generation:
z A set of Cartesian boxes forming a grid that bounds the attachment geometry are
generated and refined into smaller boxes.
z This successive refinement of the background grid is carried out until a maximum
number of levels of refinement (or tree depth) is reached or the size variation in all
boxes is less than a specified tolerance.
Background grid refinement:
z A size is calculated in each box at the nodes and the center, as a function of the
distance from the source entity.
z The box is divided along the X,Y and Z axes If the size at the center is greater than the
average of the size at the nodes by a tolerance (nonlinear error percent).
S1 S2
Sc (Savg) >
SC
(tolerance)
S3 S4
Source Boundary of
entity attachment entity Refined background grid
Background Grid Generation

Use of the background grid default parameters is
key to obtaining the desired meshes!
z TOOLS.SFUNCTION.BGRID_MAX_TREE_DEPTH
controls the maximum refinement of the background
grid
Increase the default value (16 in GAMBIT 2.2) until
no cells hit the tree depth.
A value of 1 puts no limit on the background tree
depth, but makes size functions too slow for large
models
z TOOLS.SFUNCTION.NONLINEAR_ERR_PERCENT
controls the allowable deviation of the local mesh
from the prescribed mesh size
Default is 25%, can vary between 3 and 25%
Number of cells above the prescribed tolerance are
reported in the transcript window
z TOOLS.SFUNCTION.REPORT_BGRID_INFO = 1
turns reporting in the transcript window on.

Increasing Background Tree Depth

Background grid level
reached maximum
value specified
Size Function not

sufficiently resolved
Ideal background grid
Underresolved Background Grid Resolved Background Grid

Boundary Layer Defaults

GAMBIT defaults set values for the
critical parameters for growing
boundary layers.
Knowledge of the important defaults

will help control the mesh on
complex 2D and 3D geometry.
z Boundary layer defaults are
available in the BLAYER and
BLAYERTGRID sections under the
Mesh tab in the Edit Defaults form.
Edit Defaults
z The GAMBIT Command Reference
Guide provides more information on
defaults.

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Fluent User Services Center Introductory GAMBIT Training

www.fluentusers.com GAMBIT 2.3 June 2006

Mesh Control using Size Functions

7-1 2006 Fluent Inc.

Size Functions and Boundary Layers

7-2 2006 Fluent Inc.

Curvature size function refines the

Proximity size function ensures a fine

Multiple Size Functions: Curvature and Proximity

Types of Size Functions

The type of size function dictates the criteria upon

7-4 2006 Fluent Inc.

Size Function Definition

7-5 2006 Fluent Inc.

Selecting the Source Entity

7-6 2006 Fluent Inc.

Selecting the Attachment Entity

7-7 2006 Fluent Inc.

Fixed Size Function

Attachment: face Same edge mesh

Fixed Size Function No Size Function

7-8 2006 Fluent Inc.

Curvature Size Function

Without Curvature S.F.

With Curvature S.F.

Proximity Size Function

7-10 2006 Fluent Inc.

Meshed Size Function

7-11 2006 Fluent Inc.

Size Function Utilities

7-12 2006 Fluent Inc.

Size Function Utilities

Initialized size function

7-14 2006 Fluent Inc.

High quality boundary

7-15 2006 Fluent Inc.

Defining a Boundary Layer

7-16 2006 Fluent Inc.

Boundary Layer Algorithms

Uniform Aspect Ratio (first) row Aspect Ratio (last) row

Adjacent cells Adjacent cells Cells in the last

Boundary Layer Inputs

Aspect ratio-based boundary layer inputs are

For aspect ratio (last), inputs are First Row,

7-18 2006 Fluent Inc.

Internal Continuity Option

7-19 2006 Fluent Inc.

Wedge Corner Shape Option

7-20 2006 Fluent Inc.

Boundary Layer Attachments

7-21 2006 Fluent Inc.

View 3D Boundary Layers

7-22 2006 Fluent Inc.

Boundary Layers and Vertex Types

are defined by the vertex type.

Vertex types are also important for imprinting

7-23 2006 Fluent Inc.

Imprinting Adjacent Faces with 3D Boundary Layers

Imprint of 3D boundary layer on adjacent faces

Imprinting 3D Boundary Layers by Modifying Vertex Types

No imprinting of 3D boundary layer

7-26 2006 Fluent Inc.

How Do Size Functions Work?