ANSYS Meshing CFD Case 1 - Generic Combustor

ANSYS Meshing Case 1
Generic Combustor
(CFD Mesh Tetra Prism)
Workbench Meshing
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-1
ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Meshing Workshop
The following workshop demonstrates an easy and efficient procedure to generate a high
quality mesh for a typical combustion chamber geometry. The mesh core is made of
tetrahedral elements; the boundary layers are resolved using prism elements.
In this example, three powerful ANSYS Meshing tools are used:

- Curvature based advanced size function
- Local sizing control on body of influence
- Smooth transition for the inflation layer used to resolve the boundary layers
Please note that ANSYS Meshing has several other global and local mesh controls that can
be used to control the mesh creation and quality. Those additional controls are not
discussed here, for more information please consult the ANSYS Meshing User Guide.
The mesh is made of approximately 36 Million cells. Once all the controls were set, the
mesh shown in this workshop was created in approximately 90 minutes on a 64 bit
Windows machine with 16GB of RAM.
If you are using ANSYS FLUENT, you can reduce the cell count by converting the
tetrahedral elements to polyhedral elements.

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Mesh Requirements Meshing Workshop
Fast and robust process meshing process to be completed in less than a day
Process should be easy to learn and use
Capture boundary layers with prisms
Locally refined mesh in combustion chamber
Ability to parameterize the model if needed
Geometry files: generic_combustor.x_t and boi_bodies.x_t

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Import geometry Meshing Workshop
Start ANSYS Workbench 13.0
1. From the Toolbox -> Component

System select Mesh system
(drag/drop or Double click).
2. RMB in the Geometry cell and

Import Geometry. Browse to the file
generic_combustor.x_t .

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Start Design Modeler Meshing Workshop
3. Double click the Geometry cell to open

the Design Modeler application.
4. When the DM application opens, Select

Millimeter as the unit in the unit selection
pop up window and click OK

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Geometry Import Meshing Workshop
5. Select Import1 in the model tree.
6. Click Generate

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Geometry Import Meshing Workshop
7. File -> Import External Geometry File

Select the file boi_bodies.x_t
In the Details of Import2, select Add Frozen in the Operation filed
Click Generate to import the geometry
These bodies will be used to control the sizes inside the combustion chamber,
where we do not have any other geometric entities to define sizes. These bodies
can be easily created in Design Modeler. For convenience, these bodies are
already created and saved in Parasolid format. You can also control sizes inside
the volume with growth ratio, sizing tools such as sphere of influence etc.
View -> Frozen body transparency

to turn on/off transparency

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Merge Faces Meshing Workshop
8. Merge Faces
RMB on Part2 and select Hide All other bodies
The periodic faces should have the same dimension and topology.
As shown in figure, the highlighted edge of each periodic face vary in length.
Periodic Side 1 Periodic Side 2

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
8. Merge Faces
Select the periodic faces, RMB and select hide faces
There are smaller faces on each periodic side with different dimensions.
Merge the 2 smaller faces on each side with adjacent larger faces as shown in Figure to
remove the small edges.
Insert Tools -> Merge
Select faces to be merged (Select 8 faces, 4 on each side).
Set Merge Boundary Edges option to Yes

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

8. Merge Faces
After merging, the faces will appear as shown
9. Select Part2 (Combustor)

In the details view select Fluid for Fluid/Solid option.
In this case we have only one fluid part. If you have
multiple fluid parts, you can set all by selecting
multiple parts at the same time

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Start Meshing Application Meshing Workshop
10. Geometry preparation is completed. Close Design

Modeler.
11. From the Project Page, RMB on Mesh and select Edit to
open the Meshing Application
12. In Meshing Application, expand Connections Branch in

Model tree. RMB on Contacts and Delete it.
Contacts are created based on proximity between the bodies to

define interfaces for FEA solver. Since this a CFD model, the
contacts defined can be deleted

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Define Coordinate System Meshing Workshop
13. Create a cylindrical coordinate system that can be used to

define periodicity
Click on Coordinate Systems in the model tree
Select Create Coordinate System from the Toolbar
(or RMB on Coordinate System and Insert Coordinate
system)
In the details of Coordinate system,

Set type to Cylindrical
Set Define By to Global Coordinates
Under Principal axis, set Axis to Z
Under orientation about Principal axis,

Set Axis to X

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Define Periodicity Meshing Workshop
14. Click on Model in the model tree

Select Symmetry from the tool bar
RMB on Symmetry and Insert Periodic Region
Select Periodic surfaces for Low and High Boundary

Make sure the Cylindrical coordinate system is
selected for the coordinate system field

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Create Named Selections Meshing Workshop
15. Define specific names for 2D regions so that they can be used to create different
boundaries in Fluent
Click on Model in the model tree and select Named Selection from the tool bar
Click on Named Selections in Model tree

Select the Outlet surface in the GUI
RMB and select Create Named Selection
Enter the name outlet1
Click OK
A named selection called outlet1 with the

selected surface is created
Create named selections such as inlet, symmetry,

Walls, cooling_holes, periodic etc
This helps in identifying these zones easily in Fluent

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Create Named Selections - Examples Meshing Workshop

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Set Meshing options Meshing Workshop
16. Set the Physics preference to CFD under Meshing

options
( To open the meshing options panel, select Mesh
under model tree, select options from the toolbar)

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Define Global Mesh Sizes Meshing Workshop
17. Define Global Mesh Controls. In the details of Mesh,
Set Advanced Size function to On:Curvature

The curvature size function examines curvature on edges and faces and
computes element sizes on these entities such that the size will not
violate the maximum size or the curvature normal angle, which are either
automatically computed by the mesher or defined by the user
Define the sizes as shown in the details
Set the Defeaturing controls as shown

Setting a tolerance of 0.15, features smaller than this value will be
ignored during the meshing

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Define Inflation Meshing Workshop
Hide all other parts except the combustor
18. RMB on Mesh and Insert Inflation

In the details of Inflation,
Select the combustor body for Geometry
Select the highlighted surfaces for boundary
To select the Boundary surfaces from which prisms are
generated
RMB on the GUI and click on Select All
All the surfaces are selected
Hold the CTRL key and pick on surfaces that should be removed
Click on Apply field
Set Smooth Transition as Inflation Option
Set Maximum Layers to 5
Set Growth Rate to 1.2
There are five different inflation options

available. We are using Smooth
Transition option. The prism layer
heights are calculated based on
surface mesh size. If you need control
over the initial height or aspect ratio,
you can chose appropriate option
Inflation boundary
ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Define Body of Influence Meshing Workshop
19. Define Body of Influence

RMB on Mesh and insert sizing
In the details of Sizing,
Select the Combustor part for Geometry
Set the Type to Body of Influence
Select the Body of Influence parts highlighted
12 bodies should be selected. (Hide the combustor body
and then select the 12 bodies)
Enter an element size of 0.7
Enter a growth rate of 1.1

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Define Body of Influence Meshing Workshop
20. Insert 4 Body of Influence for the 4 remaining bodies

similar to the previous step. Use the growth ratio of
1.1. Use the sizes shown
Size 0.6 Size 0.7
Size 0.8
Size 0.5

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Generate Mesh Meshing Workshop
21. Click Update or RMB on Mesh and select

Generate Mesh

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Checking Mesh Quality Meshing Workshop
22. To check Element quality, Chose the quality criteria

under Details of Mesh -> Mesh Metric

ANSYS Meshing 13.0
Export Mesh Meshing Workshop
23. To Export the mesh to Fluent,

File -> Export
Set Save as type: FLUENT Input Files
Enter the file name as Generic_Combustor.msh
Click Save
Or
Go to Project Page
Drag and Drop CFX or Fluent from Component
systems on the Mesh branch
You can also drag and drop Fluid Flow (CFX ) or
Fluid Flow (Fluent) from Analysis system on the
Mesh branch

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Polyhedral Mesh Conversion in FLUENT Meshing Workshop
24. Open ANSYS FLUENT (either serial or parallel). For highest

accuracy of the polyhedral conversion, the double precision solver
is preferred.
File -> Read -> mesh: select Generic_Combustor.msh
Mesh -> Polyhedra -> Convert Domain
Note: the prism boundary layer

can be controlled to change its
appearance. For example,
constant inflation layer thickness
can be specified


ANSYS Meshing CFD Case 1 - Generic Combustor

Încărcat de

Informații document

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

ANSYS Meshing CFD Case 1 - Generic Combustor

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

ANSYS Meshing Case 1

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

In this example, three powerful ANSYS Meshing tools are used:

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Start ANSYS Workbench 13.0

1. From the Toolbox -> Component

2. RMB in the Geometry cell and

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

3. Double click the Geometry cell to open

4. When the DM application opens, Select

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

5. Select Import1 in the model tree.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

7. File -> Import External Geometry File

View -> Frozen body transparency

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

RMB on Part2 and select Hide All other bodies

Periodic Side 1 Periodic Side 2

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

9. Select Part2 (Combustor)

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

10. Geometry preparation is completed. Close Design

12. In Meshing Application, expand Connections Branch in

Contacts are created based on proximity between the bodies to

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

13. Create a cylindrical coordinate system that can be used to

In the details of Coordinate system,

Under orientation about Principal axis,

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

14. Click on Model in the model tree

RMB on Symmetry and Insert Periodic Region

Select Periodic surfaces for Low and High Boundary

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Click on Named Selections in Model tree

A named selection called outlet1 with the

Create named selections such as inlet, symmetry,

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

16. Set the Physics preference to CFD under Meshing

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

17. Define Global Mesh Controls. In the details of Mesh,

Set Advanced Size function to On:Curvature

Define the sizes as shown in the details

Set the Defeaturing controls as shown

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

Hide all other parts except the combustor

18. RMB on Mesh and Insert Inflation

There are five different inflation options

19. Define Body of Influence

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary January 2011

ANSYS Meshing 13.0

20. Insert 4 Body of Influence for the 4 remaining bodies

Size 0.6 Size 0.7