Define Materials

Use the Material Library tool to create, edit, delete, and import/export fluid, solid, or immiscible multiphase materials. Once defined, these materials can be referenced in any domain.

The Material Library dialog contains two tabs. The Materials tab lists information for default materials. These materials cannot be edited for deleted. The My Materials tab is used to manage custom materials.

Create Materials

Use the Material Library tool to create new materials.

  1. From the Flow ribbon, click the Material Library tool.


    Figure 1.
    The Material Library dialog opens.
  2. Under the Settings field, select a medium.
  3. Review the default materials in the Materials tab.
  4. Click the My Materials tab.
  5. Click to add a material of the selected medium.
    A material property dialog opens.
    Option Description
    Fluid Define fluid material properties in each tab. Select a definition method and specify relevant values.
    Solid Define solid material properties in each tab. Select a definition method and specify relevant values.
    Immiscible Multiphase Select the two fluid materials and define the interface thickness and surface tension.
    Disperse Multiphase Define the carrier and disperse materials, the diameter of the disperse material, lift and drag parameters, interface thickness, and surface tension.

    When simulating multiphase flows using the disperse multiphase model, the carrier field has to be a fluid and the dispersed field can be of any medium.
    Boiling Multiphase Use the first tab to define the disperse properties and the second tab to define the boiling properties.
  6. Close the dialog to return to the Material Library.
    Created materials are appended to the My Materials tab. The total number of defined materials appears in parenthesis next to the tool icon.

Edit Materials

Use the Material Library tool to edit custom materials.

  1. From the Flow ribbon, click the Material Library tool.


    Figure 2.
    The Material Library dialog opens.
  2. Under the Settings field, select a medium.
  3. Click the My Materials tab.
  4. Right-click on a custom material and select Edit.
    A material property dialog opens.
  5. Edit the values in each of the material property tabs.
  6. Optional: Click the name in the top-left corner of the dialog to rename the material.
    This can also be done by double-clicking on the Name field in the Material Library.
  7. Close the dialog to return to the Material Library.

Delete Materials

Use the Material Library tool to delete existing materials.

  1. From the Flow ribbon, click the Material Library tool.


    Figure 3.
    The Material Library dialog opens.
  2. Under the Settings field, select a medium.
  3. Click the My Materials tab.
  4. Select a custom material to delete.
  5. Click .
Note: If a defined material is assigned to any solid body, you will not be able to delete it.

Import and Export Material Libraries

Use the Material Library tool to import and export defined libraries of materials.

  1. From the Flow ribbon, click the Material Library tool.


    Figure 4.
    The Material Library dialog opens.
  2. Click to export the entire material library.
  3. Click to import a previously defined material library.