Import 2D .nas file in AcuConsole

Altair Forum User

Dear Altair, 

 

I am simulating a laminar pipe flow as a rotation-symmetric plane model. I have prepared the mesh in hypermesh and need to now import the nastran (.nas) file in AcuConsole to set the boundary conditions. However, I am unable to do so. The .nas file is not corrupted. I have included below the AcuConsole import settings I used and the resultant error message for your reference. 

 

I would greatly appreciate your help. Isn't 2D CFD simulation possible with AcuConsole and AcuSolve?

 

Thank you.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

acupro

AcuSolve does not have a planar/2D solver - everything is 3D.  Typically for a 2D, you would need to have one volume element in the 'thickness' direction.

Altair Forum User

Thank you very much for the reply. Ok I have prepared a 3D Mesh in hypermesh. I now want to set the boundary conditions in acuconsole. Do I:

 

1) import the geometry .stl file and input the boundary conditions,

2) do I export the solver deck from hypermesh as a nastran file (this keeps showing an error message as seen below: regarding free edges),

 

When I forcefully export the nastran file anyway, importing it into AcuConsole becomes a problem (as seen below as well). I would appreciate your advice on solving this problem. 

 

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Altair Forum User

Ok I think I understand. I need to delete the surface mesh I created initially and only keep the generated 3D mesh in order to have an enclosed 3D mesh. I now would like to export this 3D mesh and its geometry as nastran fluent standard to import it into AcuConsole. 

 

I see that AcuConsole requires that there should be surfaces to the geometry in order for the import to work. I agree to this, as I would need to input boundary conditions to my surfaces which would be set as regions. The question is now, how do I split my geometry into the separate surfaces or regions in hypermesh?

 

I would appreciate if you could help me in this.

 

With best regards. 

acupro

The Fluent/Nastran is only used to import a closed surface mesh - for volume meshing in AcuConsole.  You would be better to export the volume mesh in AcuSolve format.  You should use the User Profile > Engineering Solutions > CFD > AcuSolve.  Then File > Export > Solver Deck.  Use CFD > AcuSolve > AcuSolve Files (.inp / .arm).  Then you can import the .arm file (mesh only) to AcuConsole.  Then right-click the Volume name, Mesh Op > Find Missing Surfaces - to extract the boundary surfaces, then you can assign them to separate surface sets.  But you'll probably want to have axisymmetric periodicity in this as well, which becomes a bit more complicated when not meshing in AcuConsole.  You may be better off contacting the Altair Germany support team.

Altair Forum User

Thank you for the reply. OK. I have a few more questions on this: 

 

1) Is it possible to skip AcuConsole altogether? Can we mesh and set up boundary conditions in HyperMesh and then run it directly in AcuSolve?

 

2) On an unrelated note): Is it possible to generate a geometry in Hypermesh for CFD? Meaning, we create nodes, lines, then surfaces, and then mesh these surfaces and generate a volume mesh to perform a CFD analysis? Or must we always have a geometry model ready prior to beginning work with Hypermesh and AcuSolve? 

 

3) Also, is it possible to generate other kinds of mesh other than tetra meshes for CFD?

 

I thank you for your help. 

With thanks & regards.

llyle_20499

Hi Guha,

1) Yes, it is possible, make sure you're using Altair Hypermesh 2017.2.4 and above. Set user profile to Acusolve

 

2) Yes, that can be done for simple geometries. 

 

3) To my knowledge, Trias and Tetras are best to be used. 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Altair Forum User

Thank you. That clarifies alot. I have managed to create a CFD Tetra Mesh for the model and have created all reaquired faces and am ready to export the file to AcuConsole. Unfortunately, Hypermesh cannot find the required file to make the launch (Please refer to error message below). The file in question and AcuConsole is in fact already installed. How do I correct this? Appreciate your help. 

 

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

llyle_20499

Hi, 

To only export use:

 

To export and run directly you can use Solver Job Launcher. 

 

Make sure you have installed the solver or if acuconsolve is installed prove the bin location which contains acuConsolve.bat in Solver exe dir. 

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

Altair Forum User

I am getting the same error message even after setting the acusolve directory to the bin. The problem ist that the .bat file for acuconsole isn't found. Is this linked to acusolve? In fact, I can launch acuconsole separately, but not via hypermesh. 

Also, I am able to expor the solver deck as a .nas file (Nastran Fluent Standard Format) or as a .inp or .arm file (AcuSolve) but not as a .imp file as stated in the Hypermesh Tutorial (CFD-1800: Using Engineering Solutions, AcuSolve and HyperView to Perform a CFD Analysis). 

 

When I export the file in .nas format, I can open it in AcuConsole, but there is only 1 surface available, and not all the surfaces that I had set up in Hypermesh. When I export the file in .inp format, it opens in AcuConsole, but nothing is visible, not even a graphic, although the prompt mentions that a mesh is already open(please see import message below): 

 

I would appreciate your help to: 

1) clarify why .imp file isn't an option despite being mentioned in the tutorial, 

2) how to export the solver deck correctly (I followed the tutorial steps to set up the model, although the model I used was a simple plate of 1 unit thickness as displayed below).

3) I am also trying to reinstall acuconsole to see if maybe there was an installation issue. Could you provide me a guidance on the correct installation and setup procedure for hypermesh, acuconsole and acusolve.

 

I appreciate your assistance. With thanks & regards. 

 

All surfaces as I had set them up are here below for your reference including the acusolve launcher setup:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

 

Opening a .inp file: No graphic, no surfaces, nothing visible or present, but it states 'Problem already contains a Mesh':

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

 

The same .bat file error is shown: 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

llyle_20499

Hi,

 

It seems like acosolve solver is not installted. Please reinstall complete AcuSolve CFD package or you can install HyperWorks Solvers. Both can be downloaded from Altair Connect. 

https://connect.altair.com/CP/downloads.html?suite=HyperWorks

 

.imp shown in the image is a mistake. It should be .inp. 

 

To correctly install I recommend you to download HyperWorks Master Installer-2018.0.1, AcuSolve CFD Solutions-2018, Hotfix: AcuSolve CFD Solutions-2018.0.1, HyperWorks Desktop-2017.3, HyperWorks Solvers-2018, Hotfix: HyperWorks Solvers-2018.0.1 to a single folder and Run the master installer. You can also download any other software like HyperWorks Help if needed. 

 

Try tutorial again to see if it works, .inp should open without an issue in AcuSolve if done properly.