Computational Domain - Overview Page 1 of 5

Computational Domain - Overview

The computational domain is the region where the flow and heat transfer calculations are performed.
When you create a new project with the Wizard, Flow Simulation automatically creates the
Computational Domain enclosing the model. The computational domain is a rectangular
parallelepiped for both the 3D analysis and 2D analysis. The computational domain boundaries are
parallel to the Global Coordinate System planes.

For External flows, the computational domain’s boundary planes are automatically distanced from
the model.

For Internal flows, the computational domain’s boundary planes automatically envelop either the
entire model, if Heat Conduction in Solids is considered, or if Heat Conduction in Solids is not
considered, the model’s flow passage only.

To access the Computational Domain dialog:

l In the Flow Simulation analysis tree, right-click the Computational Domain item and
select Edit Definition.

l On the ribbon, click Tools > Flow Simulation > Project > Computational Domain .

l In the menu, select Tools > Flow Simulation > Computational Domain .

The Computational Domain Appearance

When you select the Computational Domain item in the Flow Simulation analysis tree, the
computational domain frame in the graphics area changes its appearance and the arrow handles
become visible at its faces. The arrow handles allow you to dynamically change the computational
domain size by clicking and dragging the handles.

To hide or show computational domain in the graphics area, right-click the Computational Domain
icon in the Flow Simulation analysis tree and select Hide or Show.

Under Appearance, in the Edge Color and Face Color lists you can select the color for
edges and faces of the computational domain frame. You can also adjust the transparency of all
computational domain faces with the Face Transparency slider.

2D Simulation

If you are fully confident that the flow can be simulated by a 2D flow, you can redefine the
computational domain from the default 3D analysis to a 2D analysis resulting in decrease in required
memory and CPU time. For the 2D flow analysis the symmetry boundary condition is set on two
opposite boundaries of the computational domain having one basic mesh cell between the
boundaries.

To activate a 2D analysis in the YZ-, or XY-, or XZ-plane, under Type select 2D simulation
and then select the corresponding flow plane.

Symmetry Planes

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Periodic Boundary Conditions

Axial Periodicity

Allows to simulate sector periodic problems including rotation and heat conduction in solids. See Axial
Periodicity for details.

See also Resizing the Computational Domain.

Resizing the Computational Domain

If you make the following changes in General Settings, the Computational Domain size may
become inadequate:

l Changing the ambient velocity vector (in magnitude and/or in direction)

l Switching from one analysis type to another (external or internal).

To avoid inadequacies in the domain size after making changes in General Settings, you should
reset the Computational Domain. You can instruct the software to reset the domain automatically
or you can perform manual reset and resize adjustments.

If the model geometry has been changed, warning message requesting you to reset computational
domain appears while rebuilding the project.

To stop appearing these messages, select the check-box Remember my choice and don’t ask me
again (can be changed later in Options). If you want to show the hidden warning message or
change your decision, edit the Reset computational domain option in the Options dialog.

To reset the domain manually, right-click Computational Domain item in the Flow Simulation
analysis tree, select Edit Definition and click Reset under Size and Conditions.

Also you can reset the domain manually, if you want to cancel your changes of the domain size and
return to the computational domain generated automatically by Flow Simulation.

You can also resize the domain manually to reduce the computational domain for internal analysis or
to shift the computational domain’s boundary planes closer to or farther from the solids for external
analysis.

To manually shift the computational domain’s boundary planes, select the Computational Domain
item in the Flow Simulation analysis tree, and in the graphics area click and drag the arrow handles
at the sides of the computational domain frame to the desired positions. When you finish dragging, a
callout appears allowing you to adjust the exact position of the domain boundary by typing or
correcting its coordinate. To adjust both boundaries along the same axis symmetrically and
simultaneously, hold Shift while you drag the arrow handle. You can also type new computational
domain boundary coordinates with respect to the Global Coordinate System in the corresponding
boxes (i.e., X min, Y min, etc.) under Size and Conditions.

You can also use symmetry planes or perform a 2D simulation if applicable.

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Symmetry Planes
If you are confident that an internal or external flow has one or more symmetry planes, that are
parallel to the Global Coordinate System planes, you can perform calculation only in a part of the
flow region by resizing the computational domain. In this case, the flow symmetry planes are defined
as computational domain boundaries with the Symmetry conditions specified on them. Since the
computational domain size is reduced, both the required computer memory and CPU time are
reduced too. Note that sometimes symmetry of both model and the incoming (inlet) flow does not
guarantee symmetry in other flow regions, e.g. a von Karman vortex street past a cylinder.

If you specify an integral boundary condition (e.g., mass or volume flow, heat generation rate) at the
opening, surface or volume crossed by a symmetry plane you must adjust the input value to the
symmetry condition. Flow Simulation automatically applies the specified value to the calculated
area. Since the symmetry condition reduces the calculated area and volume, you must reduce the
values specified for other conditions (surface or volume) accordingly. For example, if a symmetry
plane halves the opening you have to specify half of the actual mass/volume flow rate to satisfy your
conditions.

To specify symmetry planes:

1. Open the Computational Domain dialog:

¡ In the Flow Simulation analysis tree, right-click the Computational Domain item,
and select Edit Definition.

¡ On the ribbon, click Tools > Flow Simulation > Project > Computational Domain
.

¡ In the menu, select Tools > Flow Simulation > Computational Domain .

2. In the graphics area click and drag the arrow handles to the desired symmetry planes positions
or specify coordinates of the flow symmetry planes under Size and Conditions.

3. Under Size and Conditions select the Symmetry condition in the list right to the
corresponding boundaries (X min, X max, etc.).

4. Click OK .

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Periodic Boundary Conditions

Periodic Boundary Conditions allow to reduce the analysis time when analyzing fluid flow in models
consisting of identical geometrical features arranged in a periodic linear order. Using Periodic
Boundary Conditions you need to calculate the fluid flow only for a small group of identical features
or even just for one feature. Periodic Boundary Conditions are specified at the pair of computational
domain boundaries for the selected direction, in which a feature or a group of features repeats
regularly over distance. Please note that the number of basic mesh cells along the selected direction
must be no less than five.

To create a periodic boundary condition:

1. Open the Computational Domain dialog:

¡ In the Flow Simulation analysis tree, right-click the Computational Domain item,
and select Edit Definition.

¡ On the ribbon, click Tools > Flow Simulation > Project > Computational Domain
.

¡ In the menu, select Tools > Flow Simulation > Computational Domain .

2. Under Size and Conditions select the Periodicity condition in the list right to the one of
the boundaries in the desired direction (X min, Y max, etc.). The condition for the other
boundary in the pair automatically changes to Periodicity.

You can specify periodic boundary conditions only for two pairs of boundaries (for two
directions), you can also specify the periodic boundary condition for one pair of boundaries
and symmetry for another pair, in both cases the third pair of boundaries must have the default
settings. In case of 2D plane flow, periodic boundary condition can be specified only for one
pair of boundaries, the other pair of boundaries must have the default settings and for the third
pair the Symmetry condition is selected automatically.

The number of basic mesh cells along the selected direction must be no less than five.

3. Click OK .

Axial Periodicity
Axial Periodicity allows to reduce the analysis time when analyzing fluid flow (or conjugate heat
transfer) in models consisting of axial periodic features. Using Axial Periodicity you need to
calculate the fluid flow only for a sector instead of the entire model. You can simulate the problems
within a sector including rotation and/or heat conduction in solids. However Cavitation, Free
Surface, High Mach Number flows and Local region(s) (Averaging) rotation are not compatible
with Axial Periodicity in this version.

To create an axial periodicity:

1. Open the Computational Domain dialog:

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¡ In the Flow Simulation analysis tree, right-click the Computational Domain item,
and select Edit Definition.

¡ On the ribbon, click Tools > Flow Simulation > Project > Computational Domain
.

¡ In the menu, select Tools > Flow Simulation > Computational Domain .

2. Select the Axial Periodicity check box to specify the periodic sector.

3. Under Axial Periodicity specify the following parameters:

4. For Plane, Surface , select any face or plane to create a sector in the graphics area. The periodic
sector will be generated by revolving the specified plane (or surface) about the Rotation axis.

5. For Rotation Axis , select any axis in the graphics area.

The Rotation Axis should be parallel to one of the Global Coordinate System axes.

You can also specify the rotation axis by selecting the surface of revolution.

l Enter a value for the Start Angle . This is the angular value between the first sector boundary and
the specified plane (or surface).

l Enter a value for the Number of Sectors . This is the total number of sectors in 360 degrees that
make up the entire model (by default it equals 8).

l Enter a value for Max Radius . This is the maximum radius of the sector. By default, it equals the
radius of the cylinder inscribed in the computational domain and the cylinder axis is collinear to the
specified Rotation Axis.

l Enter a value for Min Radius . This is the minimum radius of the sector. By default, it equals 0.

4. Click OK .

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