Create Streamlines

Use the Streamlines tools to create derived geometry streamlines which represent particle paths in a flow field. You have to define participating solids, seed points, and vectors from which streamlines are computed as well as the integration direction. There are various methods to generate seed points.

1. From the Post ribbon, click the Streamlines tool.

   
   
   Figure 1.

2. Based on the requirement of the seed definition, select a tool on the secondary ribbon.
3. Optional: Select the solids on which to define streamlines.
   Streamlines are restricted to participating solids. By default, all solids are selected.
4. Define seeds.

   Tool	Description
   Rectangle	To generate random or uniform seeds on a rectangle object: Click Plane on the guide bar. Select one of the three Cartesian planes in the modeling window. Use the microdialog options to align and resize the plane. Click Seeds on the guide bar. Choose a seed generation method and define the seeds. For the random and uniform methods, enter the number of seeds to insert. For the manual method, click on the plane to insert seed points. For any of the seed positioning methods, click on an individual seed point to edit its location.
   Rake	To generate seeds on a rake line: Click Rake on the guide bar. Define a line by selecting two points. Click on either end point or the entire line to reposition your selection. Click Seeds on the guide bar. Choose a seed generation method and define the seeds. For the random and uniform methods, enter the number of seeds to insert. For the manual method, click on the rake line to insert seed points. For any of the seed positioning methods, click on an individual seed point to edit its location.
   Circle	To generate random or uniform seeds on a circle object: Click Plane on the guide bar. Select one of the three Cartesian planes in the modeling window. Use the microdialog options to align and resize the plane. Click Seeds on the guide bar. Choose a seed generation method and define the seeds. For the random and uniform methods, enter the number of seeds to insert. For the manual method, click on the plane to insert seed points. For any of the seed positioning methods, click on an individual seed point to edit its location.
   Points	To generate user-defined seeds: Click Seeds on the guide bar. Click on any visible surface or in empty space to generate seeds. You can also click in the dialog to create seeds then define their coordinates manually. Click on an individual seed point to edit its location. Tip: Click / to import or export a seed coordinates file.
   Surface	To generate seeds on a surface: Click Surface on the guide bar. Select surfaces on which to generate seeds. Click Seeds on the guide bar. Choose a seed generation method and define the seeds. For the random and uniform methods, enter the number of seeds to insert. For the manual method, click on the surfaces to insert seed points. For any of the seed positioning methods, click on an individual seed point to edit its location.

5. Click in the seeds microdialog to select a vector variable and integration direction.
   Note: For the Points tool, click on the guide bar instead.
6. Click Calculate to generate streamlines.
   A new Streamline entity is added to the Post Browser,
7. Define the streamline display properties.
   1. Streamline style is provided to allow for the selection of two streamline style types:
      • Lines
      • Spheres with tails
        Note: Spheres with tails support additional options to define the entity style, accessed by clicking the menu dialog.

        • Sphere radius: radius of the spheres, in model units
        • Tail radius: radius of the tails, in model units
        • Tail length: length of the tails, in model units
        • Sphere spacing: spacing distance between spheres, in model units
8. On the guide bar, click to confirm your selection and remain in the tool or click to confirm your selection and exit the tool.