IN TRO D U C TO RY

Grid Control
Introduction to CONVERGE
Session 6/16
Workflow: Case Setup
• Configure the case setup
- Boundaries
- Initial conditions and events
- Grid control
- Physical models (turbulence, heat transfer, sources, VOF, discrete phase,
combustion and emissions)
• Export surface geometry, input, and data files to the Case Directory

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CONVERGE Advantage: Grid Generation
• Unlike many CFD codes, CONVERGE maintains the original surface definition
with high fidelity such that the volumes and areas are correct regardless of
- The mesh resolution
- Which grid control techniques have been invoked
• The solver and meshing algorithm are tightly coupled (typically no mesh files
are created)
- Except for inlaid meshes, the entire grid is generated at runtime

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CONVERGE Advantage: Cut-Cell Cartesian Meshing
• CONVERGE automatically generates a body-fitted Polyhedra cut-cell elements generated at
volume mesh using a patented cut-cell technique surface intersection

- Interior cells are orthogonal hexahedra, which is

ideal for the solver algorithm
- Interior cells remain stationary, which avoids
numerical diffusion associated with a moving mesh
- Cells intersected by the geometry surface are cut by
the surface to form arbitrary-sided polyhedra
- The resulting volume mesh is body-fitted and is an
exact representation of the surface geometry

Interior cells are orthogonal and stationary

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CONVERGE Advantage: Combine Grid Generation Strategies
• Generate an inlaid mesh in CONVERGE Studio, or import an external mesh (PLOT3D
format from an external mesh generator)
• Hybrid approach with inlaid and dynamic Cartesian meshes, which can be combined with
embedding, AMR, etc.

Inlaid cells

Cartesian
Imported PLOT3D mesh
cells
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CONVERGE Advantage: Cell Pairing
• CONVERGE trims the cells at the intersecting surface, which results in some
irregularly shaped cut-cells
• If the volume of a cut-cell is less than a specified ratio, then CONVERGE
combines the cut-cell and the adjacent cell that shares most cell face area
with the cut-cell
- Specify this ratio in Case Setup > Simulation Parameters > Run parameters >
Misc. > Minimum volume ratio
- You can also specify a minimum volume ratio which varies in space and time
• The center of the adjacent cell becomes the volumetric center of the
combined cell
• The cut-cell and the adjacent cell share transport quantities (velocity,
temperature, pressure)
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Grid Control Strategies
• Cartesian mesh: There are four ways to manipulate the grid size of the
Cartesian mesh in CONVERGE
- Base grid size: Assign dx, dy, dz
 The base grid size is the largest grid size available in the simulation
 All other grid control strategies are specified with respect to the base grid size
- Grid scaling: Refine or coarsen the entire mesh at a specified time
- Fixed embedding: Refine a specified portion of the grid at a specified time
- Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR): Automatically refine the grid based on
local flow conditions such as temperature or velocity
• Inlaid meshing: Specify a grid with an arbitrary orientation, spacing,
and construction
- Inlaid meshes cannot be refined or coarsened during the simulation
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Combining Strategies
• You can specify as many grid control strategies as desired
- The base grid is required
- All other grid control strategies are optional
• Most grid control strategies can be activated and deactivated at various times
- Inlaid meshes can be activated and de-activated for CONVERGE 3.0.14 and later
- Inlaid meshes cannot be extruded from moving boundaries or intersect with the geometry
• If more than one grid refinement technique is activated in a single cell at a particular
time, the method that calls for the largest refinement level (finest grid size) will be used
(i.e., the effects are not additive)

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Grid Control in a New Simulation
• When running a new simulation, it may be helpful to start with a coarse base grid and
no refinement techniques
- This allows for a rapid solution while testing the case setup and boundary motion
- Once you have verified the setup, activate the desired grid control techniques
• Because the base grid size is a simulation input, it is straightforward to perform a grid
resolution study to determine the resolution required for reasonable grid independence
• Then, multiple grid control strategies can be used to obtain the grid independent
solution at reduced computational cost

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Grid Control Setup
• Go to Case Setup > Grid Control
- Base grid is always enabled
- Click Adaptive mesh refinement, Fixed embedding, Grid
scaling, Inlaid mesh, and Minimum volume ratio as desired

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Base Grid
• Go to Case Setup > Grid Control
> Base grid to set values for dx,
dy, and dz (m)
• Click Suggestion from target cell
count and enter a target cell
count to get a suggested base
grid size
- The suggestion does not take
into account other grid control
techniques

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Practice
• Load *.cvg file
CONVERGE_Training/Intro_to_CONVERGE/Example_Cases/06-GridControl/CVG_files/06-GridControl.cvg

• Set the base grid size to 64 mm

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Grid Scaling (1/3)
• Grid scaling changes the base grid size for the entire domain at a specified time
• Grid scaling is useful to speed up convergence in steady-state flows
• The base grid (dx_base) can be coarsened or refined by any power of two

scaled grid = dx _ base / 2 grid _ scale

- grid_scale must be an integer

 Negative integers coarsen the grid
 Positive integers refine the grid

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Grid Scaling (2/3)
• Go to Case Setup > Grid
Control > Grid scaling
- Enter an integer or check
Use file to set up
different grid scaling
values at different times
 The grid scaling
values must be in
ascending order

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Grid Scaling (3/3)
• In steady-state simulations we recommend gradually
refining the mesh from coarse to fine
- This allows you to reach a steady solution more quickly
• Go to Case Setup > Simulation Parameters > Run
Parameters> Steady-state Monitor
- Select Open grid scaling configuration to set up
different grid scaling values at times dictated
automatically in the simulation
• Go to Case Setup > Grid Control > Grid scaling > Use File
- Grid scaling time is set to AUTO
- Grid scaling values must be in descending order

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Practice
• Set up grid scaling

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Fixed Embedding (1/3)
• Fixed embedding refines the Cartesian grid at specified locations and times to capture flow
phenomena of interest
• Embedding techniques can be permanent or set to coincide with critical events such as motion
initiation or change in frequency of rotation

Region embedding

Base grid

Boundary embedding
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Fixed Embedding (2/3)
• For each fixed embedding, use the embedding scale to specify the number of levels
of embedding
• The embedding cell sizes are governed by

embed cell size = dx _ base / 2embedding scale

• Negative values for embedding scale (i.e., coarsening) are not allowed
- This is in contrast to grid scaling, in which both refining and coarsening are allowed

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Fixed Embedding (3/3)
• Go to Case Setup > Grid Control > Fixed embedding
• Fixed embedding can add mesh resolution in
various locations
- BOUNDARY: at a boundary of interest
- SPHERE: in a sphere of interest
- CYLINDER: in a user-defined cylinder
- NOZZLE: near a nozzle (spray)
- INJECTOR: near an injector (spray)
- BOX: in a user-defined box of interest
- REGION: in a specific region
• These techniques are described in the following slides
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 Boundary
embedding
on blades

Fixed Embedding: BOUNDARY

• Boundary embedding refines a boundary (typically a wall) and a
specified number of layers of additional cells around the boundary
• For a moving surface (such as a valve), the embedding will move with
the surface
• You can have only one BOUNDARY embedding per boundary

Embed layers

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Fixed Embedding: SPHERE
• Sphere embedding allows you to
specify a spherical region in which
fixed embedding will be applied
• Sphere embedding is commonly used
in internal combustion engine and
gas turbine applications
- Resolve spark gap before discharge
- Resolve initial flame kernel
formation

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Fixed Embedding: CYLINDER
• Cylinder embedding allows you to specify a cylindrical region in which fixed embedding
will be applied
- You can specify different start and
end radii for a conical frustum

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Fixed Embedding: BOX
• Box embedding allows you to specify a box
in which fixed embedding will be applied

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Fixed Embedding: REGION
• Region embedding allows you to specify a region
to which fixed embedding will be applied
Diffuser Contraction
Region Region

Test
Outlet
Region
Region

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Fixed Embedding Timing Control and Translation
• Select the option to move embedding when the
geometry is transformed
• For each fixed embedding, you can select from several
timing options
- PERMANENT: Embedding technique always used
- SEQUENTIAL: Embedding technique starts and
ends at specified times
- CYCLIC: Embedding is activated periodically
(specify the start time, end time, and period)

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Practice
• Set up all of the fixed embedding strategies used in this example
- Region-based embedding for test_region and outlet_region with embedding level of 1
- Boundary-based embedding for propeller_blades and naca_blade with embedding level of 2

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Inlaid Meshing
• Alternative grid type in CONVERGE
- Not part of the Cartesian cut-cell mesh generated
at runtime
- Made up of cells with arbitrary shape, size, and orientation
that make up some or all of the domain
- Generated before the simulation
- Typically with CONVERGE Studio
• Inlaid meshes are made of surface triangles defined as
flow through INTERFACE
• Entirely optional
- Does not need to be a part of your workflow!

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Motivation for Inlaid Meshing
• Take advantage of a priori knowledge of the flow
- Examples: Spray-aligned mesh, flow-aligned mesh, boundary layer mesh
• Can potentially yield more accurate
results with fewer cells
- Can coarsen the grid in directions
with small gradients
• Inlaid meshes are always optional
- CONVERGE’s autonomous
meshing capabilities allow you to
be entirely hands-off with regard
to meshing if so desired
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Creating an Inlaid Mesh
• Inlaid meshes are typically created in
CONVERGE Studio
- Define a shaped mesh away from surfaces
(e.g., a spray cone)
- Extrude a mesh from a triangulated surface
(e.g., a boundary layer)
- Option to import a PLOT3D mesh

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Inlaid Mesh Quality (1/2)
• CONVERGE’s autonomous cut-cell mesh approach controls the quality of the
Cartesian mesh
• When you generate an inlaid mesh, you are in charge of mesh quality
- CONVERGE will write mesh quality metrics if you specify MESH_QUALITY in post.in
• Parameters to consider
- Surface triangulation (if extruding)
- Shape of the inlaid cells
- Interfaces between Cartesian and inlaid meshes

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Inlaid Mesh Quality (2/2)
• Mesh quality metrics can be written to the post files
- Aspect ratio
- Non-orthogonality
- Skewness
- Number of inlaid neighbors
- Number of Cartesian neighbors
- Face warpage
- Stretch ratio
• Refer to the CONVERGE Manual for
guidelines on mesh quality
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Inlaid Mesh Time Control (1/2)
• Inlaid meshes cannot be generated on a moving boundary
• Moving boundaries and inlaid cells cannot intersect
• Inlaid cells cannot be refined with fixed embedding or AMR
- Refinement is allowed in Cartesian cells that neighbor inlaid cells
• Inlaid cells can be activated or deactivated using events (CONVERGE 3.0.14+)

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Inlaid Mesh Time Control (2/2)
• To allow activation and deactivation of
the inlaid mesh, ensure that the inlaid
interior and exterior boundaries are
Flow through and Disconnect
• Specify a CLOSE event for both
inlaid_interior and inlaid_exterior to
activate the inlaid mesh
• Specify an OPEN event for both
inlaid_interior and inlaid_exterior to
deactivate the inlaid mesh

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Inlaid Mesh Boundaries
• When an inlaid mesh is generated
two boundaries are specified:
inlaid_interior and inlaid_exterior
• Both must be flow through
INTERFACE boundaries
• Select the forward and reverse sides
• Specify the inlaid interior boundary
in Case Setup > Grid Control >
Inlaid Mesh

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Practice
• Extrude an inlaid mesh from the airfoil boundary

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Adaptive Mesh Refinement (1/2)
• AMR automatically increases and decreases the grid
resolution based on curvatures (second derivatives) in
field variables or may be controlled based on the values
of these variables
• AMR can be permanent or activated at specified times
• AMR is activated on a region-by-region basis
• AMR can be activated for velocity, temperature, species,
passives, void fraction, pressure, density, and/or y+
(a dimensionless wall distance) on a boundary
• AMR can be activated based on a proximity check Velocity AMR resolving the
wake downstream of a reindeer
between two boundaries
- For example, between rotors in a rotary screw compressor
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Adaptive Mesh Refinement (2/2)
• You specify a maximum number of AMR cells
that, in conjunction with the base grid size,
determines the overall grid resolution Methane jet (70 m/s)
into air crossflow (30 m/s)
- This constraint forces CONVERGE to refine the
mesh such that the maximum number of cells
in the domain does not become excessive

Gas turbine combustor (CONVERGE example case)

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AMR Setup
• Go to Case Setup > Grid Control >
Adaptive Mesh Refinement

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Boundary AMR
• CONVERGE includes boundary y+ AMR
- In this example, CONVERGE will add cells along the wall if the y+ value along the wall
boundary exceeds 30

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AMR-SGS (1/2)
• CONVERGE calculates the sub-grid scalar (SGS) field as φ ′= φ − φ
φ ′ is the sub-grid scalar field
φ is the actual field
φ is the resolved field
• CONVERGE uses a truncated infinite series to approximate
the sub-grid field for any scalar
dxk2 ∂ 2φ
φ′ ≅ −
24 ∂xk2
dxk is the grid spacing for a given rectangular cell
Temperature AMR capturing the thermal gradients

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AMR-SGS (2/2)
• If the absolute value of the sub-grid field exceeds the user-
specified value (e.g., amr_vel_sgs_embed for velocity) in a given
cell, CONVERGE increases the grid resolution
• If the absolute value of the sub-grid field is less than 1/5 of the
user-specified value, CONVERGE releases the refinement by AMR
• You can specify the frequency at which embedding is applied or
released
• CONVERGE will stop refining the grid at the user-specified embed
level even if the target sub-grid scale has not been met Void fraction AMR
(ECN Spray A VOF example case)

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Value-Based AMR
• Applies embedding at a scale above a value,
below a value, or between two values
• Requires well-defined values
- Inappropriately defined bounds can lead to
running out of memory, because value-
based AMR is not self-limiting like SGS AMR
• Timing control can be CYCLIC, SEQUENTIAL,
or PERMANENT
- Start and end time controls are available for
CYCLIC and SEQUENTIAL timing types

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Inlaid Neighbor AMR
• If your domain contains an inlaid mesh, you can direct
CONVERGE to refine or coarsen the Cartesian cells based
on their inlaid neighbors
- This helps control the quality of the interface between the
Cartesian and inlaid cells
• CONVERGE will
- Add embedding to a Cartesian cell if there are more than
N inlaid cells neighboring it
- Remove embedding from a Cartesian cell if it is a group of
more than N such cells neighboring an inlaid cell

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Practice
• Set up all of the AMR strategies used in this example
- Velocity AMR for Test_region with Max embedding level of 3 and Sub-grid criterion of 0.2

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Grid Resolution Recommendations
• The example cases provided by Convergent Science are set up with our
recommended physical, numerical, and grid settings
• These recommendations are based on our experience in obtaining accurate results
while minimizing computational expense
• We recommend using these settings as a starting point for your simulation and then
using your judgement to customize the grid settings to better suit your particular
problem
• We recommend performing grid sensitivity analyses to understand the
accuracy/cost trade-off

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Load Balancing (1/2)
• Most engineering simulations are too large to run on a single-core processor
and thus are run in parallel
• Parallel computing requires splitting the computation among many
processors, all of which must communicate with each other
• The overall simulation speed is limited by the last processor to complete
each time-step
• The fluid solver (i.e., the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations) is load
balanced separately from the combustion solver
- Both the fluid and combustion solver are parallelized on a cell-by-cell basis

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Load Balancing (2/2)
• Because CONVERGE is dynamically altering the
mesh, it must periodically load balance during
the simulation
• Go to Case Setup > Simulation Parameters >
Simulation time parameters > Misc
- Set Percentage imbalance to trigger load balance
at each load_balance check to more than 100
- Set The number of cycles between parallel load
balances (we recommend checking Auto)

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Parallel Scalability
• CONVERGE simulations closely track Amdahl’s
law of scaling beyond 1000 cores
• The plot at right shows speedup data from
CONVERGE 3.0
- Sandia Flame D case with 170 million cells
• Scalability can be limited by your
cluster’s interconnect
- CONVERGE will scale best when you have
 > 3,000 cells per processor (fast interconnect)
 > 10,000 cells per processor (slow interconnect)

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Selected Grid-Related Output Files
• cell_count_ranks.out: provides information on load balancing
• cell_count_regions.out: provides information on cell count by region
• amr.out: Shows how the addition of AMR cells limits the SGS value used as a
refinement criterion

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Review Questions
• Does the domain volume change with grid refinement?
• What is cell pairing? Why do we need such strategy?
• What fixed embedding types follow boundary motion?

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Review Questions and Answers
• Does the domain volume change with grid refinement?
- No, the volume does not change with refinement.
• What is cell pairing? Why do we need such strategy?
- Cell pairing combines cut-cells with < 30% of the volume of surrounding cells with adjacent
cells to avoid solving the equations on a cell that is too small.
• What fixed embedding types follow boundary motion?
- Boundary embedding moves with the moving surface.

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APPENDIX
Grid Resolution Recommendations: Addendum
• A combination of grid control techniques can be used for
challenging regions
• Example: valve seat
- The cut-cell technique captures the valve angle and seat well,
but cell pairing might result in undesirable coarsening when
the valve is nearly closed
- Add fixed embedding on the valve angle so that cells are not
cut by more than approximately 60% when the valve is at
minimum lift
- Cells pair at 30% of their original volume, so pairing will
mostly be avoided
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AMR y+ Restriction
• You may need to limit the wall cell refinement on
selected boundaries based on y+
• Go to Case Setup > Grid Control > Adaptive mesh
refinement > Release
• If the y+ value of cell adjacent to the wall is
smaller than the target y+, then CONVERGE releases the refinement (i.e., the cell is coarsened)
- However, CONVERGE will not coarsen the cell if the cell connectivity criterion (2:1) would be violated
• If the ratio of the y+ value of cell adjacent to the wall to Y+ target is smaller than the Y+ Ratio, then the
neighboring cells will be coarsened to maintain 2:1 cell connectivity
• We recommend a Y+ Ratio of 1/3

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