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Chapter 7

Interfaces, Sources and
Additional Variables
Introduction to CFX

Domain Interfaces
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Domain Interfaces are used for:
Connection of mismatched meshes (hex to tet for example)
The meshes may be in the same or different domains
Domain in Domain Interfaces is a little misleading
A single mesh file may contain non-matching mesh regions and require
domain interfaces
Changes in reference frames between domains
Even if the mesh matches
Connect different types of domains together (e.g. Fluid to Solid)
Create periodic regions within a domain

Overview
Domain Interfaces
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Inserting Domain Interfaces
To create a domain interface right-click
on the Flow Analysis or use the toolbar
icon
Domain Interfaces
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After creating a domain interface 3 new
object are created in the outline tree

The interface object is at the Flow
Analysis level
This is the object you should edit to
make changes to the domain interface

Within each domain a Side 1 or Side 2
boundary condition is automatically
created
In general do not edit these objects
They will be automatically updated when
changes are made to the interface object
Domain Interfaces and Boundary Objects
The Interface object
The Side 1 and Side 2
boundary conditions
Domain Interfaces
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Domain Interfaces connect two sets
of surfaces together
Side 1 and Side 2

First select the domain combination
to be connected

Then select the Side 1 and Side 2
surface sets
The Domain (Filter) just limits the
scope of the Region List to make
selection easier

The Interface Models and Mesh
Connection Method control how
data is transferred across the
interface
W
h
a
t
?

Domain Interfaces Panel
H
o
w
?

Domain Interfaces
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The available Interface Models are:

Translational Periodicity
Simulates geometries that have translational
periodicity
Allows for either the mass flow rate or the
pressure change across the interface to be
specified
The quantity not specified will be part of the
solution

Rotational Periodicity
Simulates rotationally periodic geometries

General Connection
For all other types of connections
A Frame Change/Mixing Model and a Pitch
Change apply to rotating domain cases.
These are discussed in the Moving Zones
lecture

Interface Models
Domain Interfaces
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1:1
Only use this option if you are sure that the nodes on Side 1 and
Side 2 of the interface match up exactly
Not recommended for Fluid Solid and Solid Solid interfaces

GGI
Use this option when the nodes on the two sides are not aligned
For best results both sides should have fairly similar mesh
length scales
Fluxes are conserved across the interface
If the size of the connection region for one side is different to
the other, the connection will be automatically made between
the mutually overlapping surfaces (for best results ensure both
sides fully overlap)
Possible to perform a connection where there is a slight gap
or interference between the two sides of the GGI connection
The gap should be small relative to the mesh length scale
When solving, GGI connections use more memory and CPU than
1:1 connections
Mesh Connection Method
Domain Interfaces
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Mesh Connection Method
Automatic
This is generally the recommended option when available
In some cases only the GGI option will be available
It will try to make a 1:1 connection if possible, otherwise GGI
The Mesh Match Tolerance under Edit >Options >Mesh
determines how close nodes need to be before a 1:1
connection can be made
The default value of 0.005 (0.5%) is a fraction of the local mesh
length scale
In some situations a GGI connection will be used even when
nodes match 1:1
E.g. Fluid Solid interfaces, since GGI connections are more
accurate in these situations

Domain Interfaces
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Porous Interface Usage
Domain interfaces involving porous domains are always treated as
GGI

Total Pressure is unchanged across the interface
Static pressure will show a discontinuity at the interface

Total Enthalpy (Total Energy) is unchanged across interface
May see a discontinuity in Enthalpy (Temperature) in high speed flows
Total Pressure
Velocity
Static Pressure
Domain Interfaces
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Automatic Domain Interfaces
In some cases CFX-Pre will automatically
create domain interfaces within a single mesh
assembly if the mesh is from ANSYS Meshing:
To connect multiple domains and non-matching
meshes within the assembly
Right-click on Mesh >View by >Region Type
to see a list of assemblies in the mesh

Always check the automatic interfaces to
make sure they are appropriate!

You can disable automatic interface creation
from Case Options >General in the Outline
tree
You always need to manually create interfaces between mesh assemblies
and when the mesh was not generated by ANSYS Meshing
However, a mesh with multiple assemblies but 1:1 node connections will usually
be glued together to form 1 assembly, thus interfaces are not needed
Domain Interfaces
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Automatic Domain Interfaces
The Connectivity entry in the Outline tree shows
mesh connections that have been detected by
CFX-Pre
You can right-click to add/remove connections
Automatic Domain Interface are created based on
detected connections

Connections are created automatically &
manually in the Meshing application in
Workbench and passed to CFX-Pre

However, you must force all Meshing
Connections to be 1:1 (i.e. 1 region connected to
1 region) for them to be successfully passed to
CFX-Pre
In Meshing, select Connections from the Outlnie
tree and set Group By =None
Meshing
CFX-Pre
Sources
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Source Terms
Sources add additional terms added to the solved transport
equations






They provide a source (or sink) of the solved variable, e.g.
A source term added to the Energy Transport Equation represents a
source of heat
A source / sink term added to the Momentum Equations represent adding
/ removing work to / from the system e.g. a pump / turbine

Source terms are often used as black-boxes
The details of the process producing the source are not simulated
E.g. instead of modelling a fan by resolving the blades and simulating the
rotating motion, a source term is used to add momentum to the flow
Source
Viscous work
Convection
Transient
Conduction
Energy Transport Equation
Sources
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Sources need to be applied at a 3D,
2D or 1D location

A sub domain is a 3D region within a
domain that can be used to specify
values for volumetric sources

Boundary sources permit the
specification of sources as fluxes
(source per unit area) on boundary
condition surfaces


Source points are sources that act
on a single mesh element
3D, 2D & 1D Sources
Solid heater with
Energy source term
Dispersion of an
Additional Variable
from a Point Source
Sources
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3D Sources Subdomains
To add a Subdomain right-click on a Domain > Insert > Subdomain
A domain can contain many subdomains, if necessary
Subdomains cannot span multiple domains
Create separate subdomains for each domain
In Basic Settings the Location is
specified
This can be any 3D mesh region in the
domain, including the whole domain
When creating your geometry and
mesh you should account for any
regions where source terms are
required
In general create a separate 3D solid in
the geometry, then Form New Part in
DM gives a continuous mesh with
distinct 3D regions
Sources
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3D Sources Subdomains
On the Sources tab a source term for each
equation can be set
Momentum Sources have their own section
on the Sources panel see next slide

Sources may be constants or expressions
Sinks are just negative sources

The source Option can be:
Source: An amount per unit volume, e,g
[W/m^
3
]
Total Source: The total amount applied to
the subdomain, e.g. [W]
The optional Source Coefficient should be set (to improve
convergence) if the source term is a function of the solved variable
E.g. an energy source which is a function of temperature
Set to the derivative of the source with respect to the solved variable
Sources
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3D Sources Momentum Sources
i loss i
perm i
u u K u
K x
P
2

+ =
c
c

Momentum Sources can be set using a:

General Momentum Source: similar to how
sources are set for other equations
Loss Model: when modeling porous materials,
screens, etc it is easier to define the momentum
source using a loss model
This is based on Darcys Law, relating the pressure
drop to the velocity through a Permeability and a
Loss Coefficient or alternatively a Linear and
Quadratic Resistance Coefficient
K
perm
= Permeability Coefficient K
loss
= Loss Coefficient
/K
perm
= Linear Resistance Coefficient
K
loss
/ 2 = Quadratic Resistance Coefficient
Pressure Drop due to the Permeability or Linear Resistance Coeff. scales with velocity
In Laminar flows pressure drop typically scales with velocity
Pressure Drop due to the Loss or Quadratic Resistance Coeff. scales with velocity
2
In Turbulent flows pressure drop typically scales with velocity
2
Sources
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2D Sources Boundary Sources
2D sources are associated with boundary
condition

Each boundary condition has a Sources
tab

Settings are the same as 3D sources
except either a Flux (source per unit area)
is specified or a Total Source (total amount
over the boundary)

You cannot set Momentum sources on
boundaries
Sources
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1D Sources Source Points
1D Sources are created by right-clicking on the appropriate domain >Insert
>Source Point, or using the toolbar icon
Settings are similar to 3D sources except
that you can only use the Total Source
option
You cannot currently set a Momentum
Source at a point
Source points are actually implemented as
3D sources on a single mesh element
Mesh refinement will refine the source point
Additional Variables
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Additional Variables (AVs) are non-reacting scalar
components that may be transported through the flow
They do not have any direct influence on the flow solution
You can set boundary conditions and sources for transported
Additional Variables

Examples:
A tracer such as a dye or smoke
This is an example of a Transport Additional Variable. The AV is
transported with the flow, but does not influence the flow
pH level
This is an example of an Algebraic Additional Variable. The AV is
expressed as a function of other flow quantities through an algebraic
expression, rather than solving a transport equation
Additional Variables Overview
Additional Variables
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Creating Additional Variables
1. AVs are created by right-clicking on Expressions, Functions and
Variables > Additional Variables, or using the toolbar icon
Variable Type
Specific: The AV is solved on a per-unit-mass basis
Volumetric: The AV is solved on a per-unit-volume basis
Unspecified: The AV is defined in terms of an algebraic expression

Units: the units that describe the additional variable

Tensor Type: Scalar or Vector as necessary
1
Additional Variables
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Creating Additional Variables
2. Once an AV has been created it must be included in the domain
Enable the AV on the domain > Fluid Models panel
3. Then boundary and initial values must be set (except Algebraic AVs)
2
3
Additional Variables
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Domain Options
When including an AV in a domain the type
of equation to solve is specified:

Transport Equation
A full transport equation is used
The transport of the AV occurs through both
convection and diffusion
Setting the Kinematic Diffusivity controls
laminar diffusion
Turbulent diffusion is always included
Transient Advection Diffusion Sources
|
| |
|
S D U
t
+ V - V = - V +
c
c
u
) ( ) (
) (
Additional Variables
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Domain Options
Diffusive Transport Equation
The advection term is dropped from the full
transport equation models a diffusion
process




Poisson Equation
The advection and transient terms are
dropped from the full transport equation
Has uses in electromagnetics
Transient Diffusion Sources
|
|
|
S D
t
+ V - V =
c
c
u
) (
) (
Diffusion Sources
|
| S D + V - V =
u
) ( 0
Algebraic Equation / Vector Algebraic Equation
An expression (scalar) or three expression (vector) define the AV
value throughout the domain
Additional Variables
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Tips
Additional Variables can be used to work-around some limitations:
You must pass a variable to the integrated CEL functions (areaAve(),
voulmeInt(), etc). The following is not valid:
areaAve(Velocity * Density)@Inlet
because Velocity * Density is an expression, not a variable
As a work-around you can create an Algebraic AV equal to the
expressions, then pass in the AV to the CEL function

Creating an Additional Variable showing the age of the fluid in the
domain is often useful for post-processing
This is done by creating a transport AV Age with units of [s]
Inlet and initial values should be zero
An AV source term with a value of 1 should be set throughout the domain
Case Options
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General Options
Under Case Options in the Outline tree
Graphics Style and Labels and Markers
control the Viewer look

General contains a number of useful
options:
Automatic Default Domain and Automatic
Default Interfaces:
Control the creation of these automatic objects
Automatic Physics Update:
By default CFX-Pre enforces all domains to use
the same physics. In some cases you may
want different physics in different domains. In
general this is only valid when the domains are
not directly connected, e.g. two fluid domains
containing different fluids separated by a solid
domain