Introduction to AcuSolve Tutorials

This guide contains a collection of simulation cases with explicit instructions for setting up, solving and post-processing. A range of tutorials are included to illustrate the basic AcuSolve workflow and to provide guidance for setting up a variety of problems.

Some tutorials can be completed with a choice of pre-processor. Therefore, two sets of tutorials are provided here: one for HyperMesh CFD and one for SimLab.

Objectives

The objectives of the AcuSolve tutorials are to:
  • Present the basic AcuSolve workflow.
  • Introduce the capabilities of AcuSolve to new users.
  • Provide guidance for the use of AcuSolve with industrial applications.

Prerequisites

No experience with AcuSolve is needed prior to running through the tutorials included in this guide. It is expected that you have some exposure to basic principles of engineering and computer-aided engineering.

For the HyperMesh CFD based tutorials, it is strongly recommended that you go through the introductory tutorial ACU-T: 1000 UI Introduction before proceeding to the other tutorials. This tutorial includes the steps to import the geometry model, define surface mesh controls and boundary layer parameters, and so on, which are not included in the subsequent tutorials. For these remaining tutorials, you will be provided a HyperMesh database (.hm file) which has the pre-defined mesh controls. Instructions related to post-processing have been included in all the tutorials.

For the SimLab based tutorials, it is recommended that you go through the introductory tutorial ACU-T: 1000 UI Introduction before proceeding to the other tutorials. This tutorial provides an overview of the panels, ribbons, and toolbars in the SimLab user interface followed by demonstration of the CFD workflow. All the SimLab tutorials start from importing the CAD geometry, generating mesh, and setting up the simulation to post-processing the results. All the tutorials are video-based and you need to have an internet connection to view the videos and to download the files.

Basic Workflow

HyperMesh CFD Based Tutorials

The basic workflow for HyperMesh CFD based tutorials consists of the following tasks:
  1. Problem description
  2. Start HyperMesh CFD and open the HyperMesh database
  3. Validate the model
  4. Set up the simulation parameters and solver settings
  5. Assign material properties to the fluid and solid regions
  6. Define any porous media, body force, and/or reference frames
  7. Assign flow boundary conditions, such as inlet, outlet, slip, symmetry, and so on
  8. Define any radiation parameters
  9. Define any mesh motion and mesh boundary conditions
  10. Define surface mesh controls, boundary layer and volume mesh controls, and generate the mesh
  11. Define nodal output frequencies, surface and volume monitors, and nodal initial conditions
  12. Compute the solution using AcuSolve
  13. Post-process results with the plot utility (to visualize data related to the progress of the calculations) and/or with HyperView to visualize simulation data with contours, vectors, streamlines, and the like

SimLab Based Tutorials

The basic workflow for SimLab based tutorials consists of the following tasks:
  1. Problem description
  2. Learning outcome
  3. Define surface mesh controls, boundary layer and volume mesh controls, and generate the mesh
  4. Select the physics to be solved
  5. Assign material properties to the fluid and solid regions
  6. Define any porous media, body force, and/or reference frames
  7. Assign flow boundary conditions, such as inlet, outlet, slip, symmetry, and so on
  8. Define any radiation parameters
  9. Define any mesh motion and mesh boundary conditions
  10. Set up the simulation parameters and solver settings
  11. Define nodal output frequencies, surface and volume monitors, and nodal initial conditions
  12. Compute the solution using AcuSolve
  13. Post-process results (to visualize data related to the progress of the calculations and/or to visualize simulation data with contours, vectors, streamlines, and the like)
  14. Summary
Note: Validation (comparison with experimental results) and verification (determination of a mesh independent solution) approaches are not covered in this manual. Refer to the AcuSolve Validation Manual for validation cases.

For tutorials that illustrate more complicated problems, such as those involving transient physics or mesh motion, details of additional tasks are provided in the tutorial.

Supporting Files

Supporting files for each HyperMesh CFD tutorial are located in a compressed .zip archive.

Download the following and save its contents in a local directory. You can also download individual files directly from each tutorial.

For SimLab, you can download the files using the links provided on the page for each tutorial.

Typographical Conventions Used in this Manual

Different type styles are used to indicate workspace items and inputs, for example:
Set the Turbulence equation to Spalart Allmaras.
Enter Symmetry as the name of the surface.
A mini flow chart is used to indicate menu selections that lead to a specific command or dialog box, for example,
Open View > Defined Views and set the view to +Z.

This indicates that the View menu is clicked, then the Defined Views menu item is selected, and that the button labeled +Z is clicked when the dialog opens.

A mini flow chart is also used to indicate items in the Data Tree to be expanded, for example,
Expand the Model > Surfaces > Small Inlet tree item.

This indicates that first the Model tree item is expanded, then the Surfaces item underneath it is expanded, and finally, the Small Inlet item under Surfaces is expanded.