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Table of contents
- 1. Wind Direction
- 2. Wind Speed
- 3. Resolution
- 4. Domain Size
- 5. Wind Profile
- 6. Solution Mode
- 6.1. 3D Simulation
- 6.2. 2D Simulation
Use the Setup controls to define the simulation.
Resolution
Increase or decrease the voxel element size. A larger element size typically runs faster, but is less accurate than a smaller voxel element size. In the following example, the mesh size is too coarse:
When the mesh resolution is increased, the results look much better. Note that the finer mesh resolution captures flow details that were missed by the coarse mesh solution:
Domain Size
To change the size and position of the air volume around the structure, select the direction and use the sliders to grow or shrink the domain. The dimensions correspond to the labels on the faces of the ViewCube:
It is important to select an appropriate size for the flow domain to ensure that bounds to not artificially influence the flow. Click here for more about sizing the domain correctly.
Wind Profile
In many situations, the wind approaching a structure or building does not have a uniform velocity. The wind speed is often faster at higher elevations than at ground level. To include this effect in your simulations, click Wind Profile.
On the Wind Profile dialog, the vertical axis represents the height, and the horizontal axis is the multiplier applied to the specified Wind Speed. The colored region on the grid is the domain size of the model. The regions outside of the colored region are outside of the current wind tunnel. The default wind profile is uniform at the specified wind speed.
To specify a profile, click a point on the curve and drag to the desired location. You can drag multiple points to create the desired profile. The following is an example of a non-linear wind profile:
Solution Mode
3D Simulation
Perform the simulation on the entire solution domain. 3D Simulation is a more rigorous way to simulate flow, and is useful for visualizing the interactive nature of the flow around the structure. Results computed in 3D are more complete than in 2D because they encompass the entire object and the air throughout the wind tunnel. Use 3D to see where the flow is smooth and where it changes direction. Look for regions that show flow separation, recirculation, and abrupt direction changes.
2D Simulation
Perform the simulation on a single slice through the solution domain. This mode is the fastest, and produces results on a two-dimensional slice through the model. Use it to quickly understand the wind behavior through a specific cross-section. Note that while results produced in 2D mode are conceptual, they provide a quick and valuable view of how the air moves past the design. The displayed results update as you change the wind speed and direction.
For more about the differences between 2D and 3D simulations, click here.