Polyhedral Mesh
Theory and Physics
Overview
Teacher! Today's topic is about polyhedral meshes, right? What are they like?
A characteristic technology of Star-CCM+. Achieves equivalent accuracy with fewer cells than tetrahedral meshes. Reduces numerical diffusion.
Governing Equations
Discretization Method
How do you actually solve this equation on a computer?
We use spatial discretization by the Finite Element Method (FEM). We assemble the element stiffness matrix and construct the global stiffness equation.
We perform transformation to the weak form (variational form) and use formulation by the Galerkin method using test functions and shape functions. The choice of element type (low-order elements vs. higher-order elements, full integration vs. reduced integration) directly affects the trade-off between solution accuracy and computational cost.
Matrix Solution Algorithms
What exactly are matrix solution algorithms?
Solve the simultaneous equations by direct methods (LU decomposition, Cholesky decomposition) or iterative methods (CG method, GMRES method). Preconditioned iterative methods are effective for large-scale problems.
| Solver | Classification | Memory Usage | Applicable Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| LU Decomposition | Direct Method | O(n²) | Small to Medium Scale |
| Cholesky Decomposition | Direct Method (Symmetric Positive Definite) | O(n²) | Small to Medium Scale |
| PCG Method | Iterative Method | O(n) | Large Scale |
| GMRES Method | Iterative Method | O(n·m) | Large Scale / Non-symmetric |
| AMG Preconditioner | Preprocessing | O(n) | Very Large Scale |
So, if you cut corners on the finite element method part, you'll pay for it later. I'll keep that in mind!
Implementation in Commercial Tools
So, what software can be used for polyhedral meshes?
| Tool Name | Developer/Current Status | Main File Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Ansys Fluent | Ansys Inc. | .cas, .dat, .msh, .jou |
| Simcenter STAR-CCM+ | Siemens Digital Industries Software | .sim, .java, .csv |
| OpenFOAM | Open Source (OpenCFD/ESI, OpenFOAM Foundation) | Dictionary files (blockMeshDict, etc.), .foam |
| Ansys CFX | Ansys Inc. | .cfx, .def, .res, .ccl |
Vendor History and Product Integration Background
Do the origins of each software have dramatic stories?
Ansys Fluent
Next is about Ansys Fluent. What's the content?
Developed by Fluent Inc. Acquired by Ansys in 2006. A general-purpose CFD solver based on unstructured grids.
Current Affiliation: Ansys Inc.
Simcenter STAR-CCM+
Next is about Simcenter STAR. What's the content?
Developed by CD-adapco. Acquired by Siemens in 2016 and integrated into the Simcenter brand. Polyhedral mesh is a key feature.
Current Affiliation: Siemens Digital Industries Software
After hearing this, I finally understand why development is so important!
OpenFOAM
What exactly is OpenFOAM?
Open-source CFD originating from Imperial College London. Parallel development by OpenCFD Ltd (under ESI Group) and The OpenFOAM Foundation.
Current Affiliation: Open Source (OpenCFD/ESI, OpenFOAM Foundation)
Wow, the story of development is super interesting! Tell me more.
File Formats and Interoperability
Are there any points to note when transferring data between different software?
| Format | Extension | Type | Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGNS | .cgns | CFD Data | CFD General Notation System. Standard exchange format for CFD results. |
| VTK | .vtk/.vtu | Visualization | Visualization Toolkit format. Used by ParaView, etc. |
| STL | .stl | Mesh | Triangular facets only. 3D printer standard. Not suitable for CAE meshing. |
When converting models between different solvers, attention is needed regarding the correspondence of element types, compatibility of material models, and differences in the representation of loads and boundary conditions. Particularly, higher-order elements and special elements (cohesive elements, user-defined elements, etc.) often cannot be directly converted between solvers.
I see... Formats seem simple at first glance, but they're actually quite profound.
Practical Considerations
Are there any "field wisdom" things not found in textbooks?
Related Topics
なった
詳しく
報告