COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

Lab Report No. 8: ICEM Meshing

SUBMITTED BY:

Name Hamza Khan

Registration No. 220101061

SUBMITTED TO:

Dr. Umer Sohail

DEPARTMENT OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS

INSTITUTE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY
ISLAMABAD
Table of Contents
List Of Figures ......................................................................................................................... 3
2D Pipe Junction .................................................................................................................. 4
1. Ansys ICEM ..................................................................................................................... 4
2. Create a Project ............................................................................................................... 5
3. Initialize Blocking ............................................................................................................ 6
4. Split to Create Topology and deleting Blocks .............................................................. 7
5. Vertex to Point Association ........................................................................................... 8
6. Associate Edges to Curves ............................................................................................ 8
7. Displaying Associations ................................................................................................. 8
8. Grouping Curves ............................................................................................................. 9
9. Finishing Edge to Curve Associations .......................................................................... 9
10. Moving Vertices onto Geometry ................................................................................. 9
11. Mesh Sizes ................................................................................................................. 10
12. Pre-Mesh..................................................................................................................... 11
13. Edge Parameters ....................................................................................................... 11
14. Conversion to Unstructured Mesh ........................................................................... 12
15. Selecting Solver and Boundary conditions ............................................................. 13
16. Writing Input File ....................................................................................................... 15

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List Of Figures
Figure 1: ICEM CFD ................................................................................................................ 4
Figure 2: 2D Pipe Junction Geometry ...................................................................................... 5
Figure 3: 2D Pipe Junction Blocking ........................................................................................ 6
Figure 4: 2D Pipe Junction Splitting to create Topology
Figure 5: Geometry after deletion of boxes.............................................................................. 7
Figure 6: Geometry after Displaying Associations ................................................................... 9
Figure 7: Geometry after Moving vertices ................................................................................ 9
Figure 8: Updated Mesh Geometry ....................................................................................... 10
Figure 9: Computed Pre-Mesh .............................................................................................. 11
Figure 10: 2D Pipe Junction Solid Wire Geometry ................................................................ 12
Figure 11: Unstructured Mesh ............................................................................................... 12
Figure 12: Solver Setup ......................................................................................................... 13
Figure 13: Geometry after selecting Solver ........................................................................... 14
Figure 14: Selecting Boundary Conditions............................................................................. 15

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 2D Pipe Junction

In this lab assignment, we are tasked with the meshing of 2D Pipe Junction geometry on
ANSYS-ICEM. We are to study the basic process and tools for hexa blocking by following the
laid down process:

• Top down process and structuring concepts for desired grid line flow.
• Edge associations
• Curve grouping
• Matching edges
• Conversion to an unstructured mesh.

1. Ansys ICEM
First and foremost, we will drag ICEM CFD from component systems to the ANSYS
Workbench and edit the Model sub-system of ICEM CFD where we will import our geometry.

Figure 1: ICEM CFD

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 2. Create a Project
We would start of our project by importing the geometry of 2D Pipe Junction in ANSYS-ICEM,
and create parts by assigning them names through the following process:

• Import Geometry from File > Open Geometry > Browsing for the relevant geometry.
• Assign name to parts > Parts > Create Parts > Name Part and Apply.
• Right click on parts in the tree and select ‘Good colours.

At this stage it is only necessary to set up parts for the boundary conditions.

Figure 2: 2D Pipe Junction Geometry

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 3. Initialize Blocking
Blocking is a feature in ICEM that is used to create a structured grid in certain regions of the
mesh. Blocking is advantageous as it is composed of rectangular (2D) and quadrilateral
elements (3D) which offer more accurate results and easier boundary condition specification
than the triangle (2D) and tetrahedral (3D) elements of the unstructured meshing where
blocking isn’t applied. Blocking is carried out by following these steps:

• Select Blocking > Create Block > Initialize Blocks

• Type FLUID for Part
• Change type to 2D Planar
• Apply

This creates one block in the FLUID part which encloses the entire geometry and the curves
automatically change colour to allow us to see the ends of curves as shown below:

Figure 3: 2D Pipe Junction Blocking

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 4. Split to Create Topology and deleting Blocks
Split to Create Topology tool is used to divide the geometry into smaller, more manageable
parts to facilitate meshing, particularly in regions of interest or where the geometry is
complex by creating additional faces or edges on the geometry. Deleting blocks command on
the other hand is used to remove unwanted structured blocks that haven been created during
the blocking process This can be done by following the steps listed below:

• Select Blocking > Split Block

• Select the ‘Select edges’ button and left click on the edge to split.
• Hold the mouse button and drag the split to desired location.
• Click apply.
• For deleting, select the desired corner blocks, ensure ‘Delete permanently’ is off so
they can be moved to VORFN where they can be used again if desired.
• Click apply to delete the required blocks.

The following geometry results from this process:

Figure 4: 2D Pipe Junction Splitting to create Topology Figure 5: Geometry after deletion of boxes

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 5. Vertex to Point Association
It is used to connect mesh vertices to specific points on the geometry. This association
ensures that mesh accurately conforms to the geometry and that the boundary conditions are
applied correctly. This can be done by:

• Turning on Points on the model tree.

• Select Blocking > Associate > Associate Vertex.
• Ensure entity type is selected as point. Select the vortices one at a time and follow the
desired path to align it with the reference geometry.
• Click apply when done.

6. Associate Edges to Curves

It is used to connect the edges of a geometry with the curves of our reference geometry by
through the following procedure:

• Select Blocking > Associate > Associate Edge to Curve

• Select the required edges then apply. (Curves will automatically be grouped into one)
• Note: Color of edges will change from white/black at boundary to green (indicating its
constrained to curve)

7. Displaying Associations
Displaying Association is used for understanding the relationship between the geometry and
the mesh.
It can be displayed by right clicking on Blocking > Edges > Show Association in the model
tree. It is used to visually verify proper association as it is the first tool in diagnosing
projection problems.

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 Figure 6: Geometry after Displaying Associations

8. Grouping Curves
Grouping curves is used to arrange curves in the geometry which helps us deal with complex
geometries or to meet certain meshing requirements.

Procedure to group curves is as follows:

• Select Blocking > Associate > Group/Ungroup curves

• Select curves and click apply.

9. Finishing Edge to Curve Associations

It is used to relate mesh edges with geometric curves, which is essential to transfer geometry
information to the mesh and ensure mesh conforms to the desired geometry.

10. Moving Vertices onto Geometry

It is used to improve mesh quality for better mesh generation by ensuring accurate boundary
representation. The following process is to be followed:

• Select Blocking > Move Vortex

• Press the ‘select vert(s)’ button. Left click and hold and drag the desired vertices to the
desired location.

Figure 7: Geometry after Moving vertices

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 11. Mesh Sizes
Specifying Mesh sizes is crucial for controlling the resolution of mesh which determines the
spacing of mesh nodes or elements and thus affects the accuracy and convergence of the
simulation. We have selected the following Parameters for our mesh:

• Max size = 3
• Height = 1
• Height Ratio = 1.5

We then used the ‘Update sizes’ tool to adjust the size specifications of mesh elements in a
specific region or throughout the entire mesh. This tool is crucial for refining or coarsening
the mesh according to simulation requirements and accuracy considerations.

We have followed the steps listed below to achieve our goal:

• Select Blocking > Pre-Mesh Params > Update Sizes

• Select ‘Update all’
• Right Click on Edges and apply

Figure 8: Updated Mesh Geometry

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 12. Pre-Mesh
Computing Pre-Mesh is the first step towards mesh generation. It ensures the geometry is
ready for meshing by creating a preliminary mesh that conforms to the geometry’s surfaces.

Figure 9: Computed Pre-Mesh

13. Edge Parameters

They are used to define certain attributes and characteristics of the geometry by controlling
mesh generation process to meet desired requirements. Edge Parameters can be created in
the following way:
• Select Blocking > Pre-Mesh Params > Edge Params
• Select the desired edge and set the desired spacing.
• While Copy Parameters is turned on, set method to all Parallel edges.
• Adjust nodes until column ratios meet.
• Turn Pre-mesh off and on to recompute.
• Click on Pre-Mesh > Solid & Wire

We get the following geometry as a result of this:

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 Figure 10: 2D Pipe Junction Solid Wire Geometry

14. Conversion to Unstructured Mesh

The pre-mesh can’t be written to solver yet so we convert it into unstructured mesh in the
model tree. This writes the default name in the working directory which then immediately
loads the mesh.

Figure 11: Unstructured Mesh

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 15. Selecting Solver and Boundary conditions

It is used to specify the solver that will be used to perform the subsequent CFD
(Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation. This selection is crucial because different
solvers have different numerical methods, capabilities, and requirements. We are using
Ansys FLUENT Solver.
These are the steps to be followed:

• Select Output > Select Solver.

• Click on the downward arrow next to Output Solver > Choose ANSYS Fluent.
• Click Apply.

Figure 12: Solver Setup

To display the updated geometry:

• Turn OFF Mesh > Shells and Geometry > Curves > turn ON Mesh > Lines in the
model tree
• Turn OFF all Blocking entities
• Right click on Mesh > Dot Nodes (to see nodes)

Now we will set boundary conditions using the following steps:

• Select Output > Boundary Conditions.

• Expand under Edges > INLET_LARGE, and press Create new.
• Select velocity-inlet, then click on Okay.
• Also select velocity inlet for INLET_SMALL.
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• Expand on Edges > OUTLET, and press Create new.
• Select pressure-outlet, exhaust-fan, outlet-vent, then click on Okay.
• Expand under Surfaces > Mixed/unknown > FLUID, and press Create new.
• Select fluid for the Boundary conditions, then click on Okay.
• Click on Accept

Figure 13: Geometry after selecting Solver

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 Figure 14: Selecting Boundary Conditions

16. Writing Input File

This is the last step for ICEM CFD Meshing and the procedure is as follows:

• Select Output > Write Input.

• Firstly, save the attribute file (*.atr).
• In second step, save the project.
• Select the mesh to write to the solver.
• Chose the desired Project Name.
• Click done.

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